The United States on Friday reported a budget deficit of $1.8 trillion for the past year, widening from 2023's level on greater spending, including for interest on the public debt. In the latest fiscal year, there was a near 30 percent rise in spending on interest on the public debt, largely due to higher interest rates, the Treasury noted.

The United States on Friday reported a budget deficit of $1.8 trillion for the past year, widening from 2023's level on greater spending, including for interest on the public debt. In the latest fiscal year, there was a near 30 percent rise in spending on interest on the public debt, largely due to higher interest rates, the Treasury noted.

The shortfall was more than 8% from the previous year and the third highest on record, the Treasury Department said Friday.

WASHINGTON - The Biden administration rang up a budget deficit topping $1.8 trillion in fiscal 2024, up more than 8% from the previous year and the third highest on record, the Treasury Department said Friday. Even with a modest surplus in September, the shortfall totaled $1.833 trillion, $138 billion higher than a year ago. The only years the U.S. has seen a great deficit were 2020 and 2021 when the government poured trillions into spending associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. The deficit came despite record receipts of $4.9 trillion, which fell well short of outlays of $6.75 trillion. Government debt has swelled to $35.7 trillion, an increase of $2.3 trillion from the end of fiscal 2023. One aggravating factor for the debt and deficit picture has been high interest rates from the Federal Reserve’s series of hikes to fight inflation. Interest expense for the year totaled $1.16 trillion, the first time that figure has topped the trillion-dollar level. Net of interest earned on the government’s investments,…