Tax Season and Rising Debt Costs Push U.S. February Deficit Wider

The U.S. government’s budget deficit ballooned in February, driven by a significant increase in spending due to the tax refund season and escalating interest costs on the national debt, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. The deficit reached $296 billion for the month, marking a 13% increase from February 2023’s $262 billion gap. This uptick comes as expenditures hit a record $567 billion for February, a jump of 8%, while income rose modestly by 3% to $271 billion. This development slightly surpassed economists’ forecasts, who had anticipated a $299 billion deficit.