Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Mar 12 2015

U.S. Budget Deficit Deepens So Far in FY 2015

Summary

The Federal Government reported a $192.327 billion budget deficit during February compared to a $193.532 billion deficit during February of 2014. For the first five months of Fiscal Year 2015, however, the deficit deepened to $386.537 [...]


The Federal Government reported a $192.327 billion budget deficit during February compared to a $193.532 billion deficit during February of 2014. For the first five months of Fiscal Year 2015, however, the deficit deepened to $386.537 billion compared to a $376.371 billion deficit in the first five months of FY 2014. New projections from the Congressional Budget Office call for a budget deficit of $486 billion in FY 2015 compared to $483.4 billion last year, then a $455 billion deficit in FY 2016.

The deeper deficit so far this fiscal year versus FY'14 occurred as outlays rose 6.0% y/y. A 21.7% surge in spending on health programs led the rise. Medicare spending also rose a quickened 9.4% y/y and Social Security payments gained a stable 4.5%. National defense outlays declined 4.1% y/y and income security payments fell 5.5% y/y with lower unemployment. Spending on education, training & social services increased 28.4% y/y while veterans benefits rose 7.3% y/y. Social Security spending increased a stable 4.4% y/y while net interest spending fell 4.0% y/y due to the shrinking deficit.

Net revenues so far in FY 2015 improved 7.1% y/y as corporate income taxes improved 19.0% y/y. Individual income taxes rose 8.1% y/y and social insurance taxes gained 2.8% y/y. Excise taxes increased a stable 2.7% y/y.

Haver's basic data on Federal Government outlays and receipts are contained in USECON. Considerable detail is given in the separate GOVFIN database.

Updated Budget Projections: 2015 to 2025 from the Congressional Budget Office can be found here.

 US Government Finance Feb FY'14 FY'13 FY'12 FY'11
Budget Balance -- $-192.3 bil. $-483.4 bil. $-680.2 bil. $-1,089.2 bil. $-1,296.8 bil.
  As a percent of GDP -- 2.8 4.1 6.8 8.4
% of Total FY'15 YTD
Net Revenues (Y/Y % Change) 100 7.1% 8.9% 13.3% 6.4% 6.5%
  Individual Income Taxes 47 8.1 5.9 16.3 3.7 21.5
  Corporate Income Taxes 10 19.0 17.3 12.9 33.8 -5.4
  Social Insurance Taxes 34 2.8 8.0 12.1 3.2 -5.3
  Excise Taxes 3 2.7 11.1 6.3 9.2 8.2
Net Outlays (Y/Y % Change) 100 6.0 1.4 -2.4 -1.7 4.1
  National Defense 18 -4.1 -4.7 -6.3 -3.9 1.7
  Health 10 21.7 14.2 3.1 -7.0 1.0
  Medicare 14 9.4 2.8 5.5 -2.8 7.5
  Income Security 16 -5.5 -4.3 -1.1 -9.1 -4.1
  Social Security 24 4.5 4.6 5.2 5.8 3.4
  Veterans Benefits & Services 4 7.3 7.7 11.5 -2.0 17.3
  Education, Training, Employment & Social Services 3 28.4 25.9 -21.9 -10.3 -20.6
  Interest 6 -4.0 3.0 0.4 -3.0 15.8
  • Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio.   Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984.   He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C.   In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists.   Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.

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