Have the Debt and Deficits Gotten Better?
Last Updated August 3, 2016
CNN’s Jake Tapper recently provided an informative look at the nation’s debt and deficit outlook, and how it’s perceived by voters. As he points out in the segment below, part of the problem when discussing America’s long-term debt is that it is often confused with short-term deficits.
Fact checking debt at the #DNC https://t.co/QwTNOFD0C4 #TheLead
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 29, 2016
Deficits, the annual shortfall in the federal budget, had been declining sharply since the Great Recession in 2009. Earlier this year, however, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office warned that the era of declining deficits was over, largely due to the passage of tax extenders at the end of 2015.
But much more important is the steep upward trajectory of our long-term debt — which remains as dangerous as ever. In its latest long-term outlook, released in June, CBO projected that the federal debt will climb to 141 percent of GDP by 2046 — by far the highest level on record.
For more clarification on the difference between the debt and the deficit, read "Debt vs. Deficits: What's the Difference?"
Further Reading
Growing National Debt Sets Off Alarm Bells for U.S. Business Leaders
Debt rising unsustainably threatens the country’s economic future, and a number of business leaders have signaled their concern.
Infographic: The National Debt Is Now More than $36 Trillion. What Does That Mean?
Although the national debt affects each of us, it may be difficult to put such a large number into perspective.
The U.S. Just Had Its Highest Deficit Outside of Major War or Recession
One of the reasons to restrain debt and maintain a sustainable fiscal outlook is that emergencies arise that may necessitate federal support.