National debt
US national debt

The August US budget deficit data was released early. It was expected later this afternoon.

  • US August 2024 budget deficit $-380 billion versus $-317.3 billion estimate
  • August 2023 surplus was $89 billion
  • Fiscal 2024 year-to-date deficit $1.897 trillion versus comparable fiscal 2023 of $1.525 billion deficit.
  • US August budget outlays $687 billion versus $194 billion in August 2023. Big increase in outlays.
  • Receipt came in at $307 billion versus $283 billion in August 2023. Modest increases.
  • Interest costs on public that top $1 trillion for the first time for 2024 fiscal year to date.

This is not a good release.

Looking at the US stock market, the Dow industrial average is now down -0.11% at 40833. The high price for the day reached 40984.28.

The NASDAQ index is leading the way with a gain of 59 points or 0.34% at 17454. Both are off their high levels for the day. The NASDAQ index reached a high of 17509.80