Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Apr 11 2013

U.S. Budget Deficit Improves Significantly

Summary

The Federal Government budget deficit narrowed sharply to $105.5B during March of FY'13 versus a deficit of $198.2B one year earlier. The figure roughly matched expectations. So far this fiscal year the deficit has totaled $600.5B, [...]


The Federal Government budget deficit narrowed sharply to $105.5B during March of FY'13 versus a deficit of $198.2B one year earlier. The figure roughly matched expectations. So far this fiscal year the deficit has totaled $600.5B, down from $779.0B during the first six months of FY'12.

Net revenues rose a strong 12.4% so far this fiscal year versus last year. That's been driven by a 14.7% y/y gain in individual income taxes and an 18.6% y/y rise in corporate income tax payments. Social insurance payments jumped an accelerated 9.1% y/y while excise taxes grew 11.7% y/y.

The 2.5% y/y decline in outlays was paced by a 6.3% decline in defense expenditures. Medicare payments rose 5.4% y/y and veterans benefits grew 4.2%. Social security benefits rose 5.7% this fiscal year versus last but income security outlays fell 2.7% y/y with the lower unemployment rate. The gain in health outlays also was a modest 2.8% y/y.

Haver's basic data on Federal Government outlays and receipts, and summary presentations of the Budget from both OMB and CBO are contained in USECON. Considerable detail is given in the separate GOVFIN database. 

US Government Finance Mar FY'12 FY'11 FY'10 FY'09
Budget Balance -- $-106.5B $-1,089B $-1,298.7B $-1,294.2B $-1,415.7B
  As a percent of GDP -- -- 7.0 8.6 8.0 9.5
% of Total YTD FY'13
Net Revenues (Y/Y % Change) 100 12.4% 6.4% 6.5% 2.7% -16.6%
  Individual Income Taxes 47 14.7 3.7 21.5 -1.8 -20.1
  Corporate Income Taxes 8 18.6 33.8 -5.4 38.5 -54.6
  Social Insurance Taxes 36 9.1 3.2 -5.3 -2.9 -1.0
  Excise Taxes 3 11.7 9.2 8.2 7.1 -7.2
Net Outlays (Y/Y % Change) 100 -2.5 -1.7 4.1 -1.8 18.2
  Nat'l Defense 20 -6.3 -3.6 1.7 4.6 7.6
  Health 10 2.8 -7.0 1.0 10.4 19.1
  Medicare 20 5.4 -2.8 7.5 5.0 10.1
  Income Security 17 -2.7 -9.2 -4.1 16.7 24.9
  Social Security 20 5.7 5.8 3.4 3.5 10.7
  Veterans Benefits 4 4.2 -2.0 17.3 13.6 12.7
  Interest 6 -0.6 -2.1 15.8 2.9 -24.6
  • 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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