3 Takeaways from CBO’s Budget and Economic Outlook
The outlook for the federal budget has worsened considerably since last year, according to a new report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The sharp deterioration in the budget outlook stems from the large spending and tax bill that was enacted in December 2015, which increases deficits considerably over the next 10 years and beyond. CBO’s latest report highlights that America’s fiscal policy over the long-term remains unsustainable and threatens our future economy.
The CBO report finds that:
1. The federal budget has a structural mismatch between spending and revenues, which will lead to rising deficits over the next decade and beyond. Federal deficits will exceed the $1 trillion mark in 2022 and deficits will total $9.4 trillion over the next 10 years.
2. Interest costs on the debt will climb sharply. Over the next 10 years, net interest costs will total $5.8 trillion.
3. Federal debt is projected to rise to 86 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2026 — double its 50-year average and higher than at any point since just after WWII. Debt levels thereafter will climb sharply as a share of GDP.
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Further Reading
The Fed Held Its Target Range For the Fourth Meeting in a Row but Interest Costs Remain High
High interest rates on U.S. Treasury securities increase the federal government’s borrowing costs.
The U.S. Dollar Is the World’s Reserve Currency. Why Does That Matter?
The country’s unsustainable fiscal outlook threatens to diminish the dollar’s standing, which would have damaging fiscal and economic consequences for the United States.
Delaying Fiscal Reform is Costly, Annual Treasury Report Warns
The Treasury projects that debt as a percentage of GDP will grow to more than five times the size of the U.S. economy in the next 75 years.