Federal budget deficit (+) or surplus (-), monthly, United States
Federal budget deficit (+) or surplus (-), monthly was $26.9 bn in September 2026, down 83.9% from August 2026 and down 113.6% from a year earlier. The figure is published by U.S. Department of the Treasury in Monthly Treasury Statement, Table 1. The series starts in October 2013 and has 156 observations. Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury.
- On the previous reading (August 2026): down 83.9%, to $26.9 bn
- On a year earlier (September 2025): down 113.6%
- Against the five-year average of $144.3 bn: below
Sparklines: the last ten years; the amber dot marks the reading in the tile. Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Treasury.
Overview
Over the last five years the series ranged from -$308.2 bn (April 2022) to $432.3 bn (July 2026). Since October 2013 the full range is -$308.2 bn (April 2022) to $864.1 bn (June 2020).
Key facts
| Reading | Period | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | September 2026 | $26.9 bn |
| Previous | August 2026 | $166.8 bn |
| A year earlier | September 2025 | -$197.9 bn |
| Five-year high | July 2026 | $432.3 bn |
| Five-year low | April 2022 | -$308.2 bn |
| First observation | October 2013 | $90.6 bn |
Unit: USD. Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Treasury.
How has it moved since October 2013?
Full history
- Federal budget deficit (+) or surplus (-), monthly $26.9bn
Last five years
- Federal budget deficit (+) or surplus (-), monthly $26.9bn
Latest readings
| Period | Value | Change from previous |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | -$197.9 bn | -157.4% |
| October 2025 | $284.3 bn | -243.6% |
| November 2025 | $173.3 bn | -39.1% |
| December 2025 | $144.8 bn | -16.5% |
| January 2026 | $94.6 bn | -34.6% |
| February 2026 | $307.5 bn | +225.0% |
| March 2026 | $164.1 bn | -46.6% |
| April 2026 | -$215.0 bn | -231.0% |
| May 2026 | $292.6 bn | -236.1% |
| June 2026 | $120.3 bn | -58.9% |
| July 2026 | $432.3 bn | +259.3% |
| August 2026 | $166.8 bn | -61.4% |
| September 2026 | $26.9 bn | -83.9% |
How does the latest reading compare?
The latest reading of $26.9 bn in September 2026 is below its five-year average of $144.3 bn and below its ten-year average of $141.6 bn. It is higher than 26% of all 156 readings since October 2013. It has fallen for 2 readings in a row up to September 2026. Over the last 12 readings, from October 2025 to September 2026, it averaged $166.0 bn, with a high of $432.3 bn in July 2026 and a low of -$215.0 bn in April 2026. In the last ten years the largest rise from one reading to the next was in April 2020, to $738.0 bn from $119.0 bn in March 2020, and the largest fall was in July 2020, to $63.0 bn from $864.1 bn in June 2020.
Among the last 9 complete years, the average was highest in 2020, at $279.0 bn, and lowest in 2017, at $56.7 bn.
Year by year
| Year | Average | Low | High | Last reading | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $154.5 bn | -$215.0 bn | $432.3 bn | $26.9 bn September 2026 | 9 |
| 2025 | $138.9 bn | -$258.4 bn | $344.8 bn | $144.8 bn December 2025 | 12 |
| 2024 | $168.2 bn | -$209.5 bn | $380.1 bn | $86.7 bn December 2024 | 12 |
| 2023 | $148.6 bn | -$176.2 bn | $378.4 bn | $129.4 bn December 2023 | 12 |
| 2022 | $118.3 bn | -$308.2 bn | $429.8 bn | $85.0 bn December 2022 | 12 |
| 2021 | $215.0 bn | $21.3 bn | $659.6 bn | $21.3 bn December 2021 | 12 |
| 2020 | $279.0 bn | $32.6 bn | $864.1 bn | $143.6 bn December 2020 | 12 |
| 2019 | $85.2 bn | -$160.3 bn | $234.0 bn | $13.3 bn December 2019 | 12 |
| 2018 | $72.7 bn | -$214.3 bn | $215.2 bn | $13.5 bn December 2018 | 12 |
| 2017 | $56.7 bn | -$182.4 bn | $192.0 bn | $23.2 bn December 2017 | 12 |
Averages, lows and highs are calculated by EconoMonitor from the published readings. Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Treasury.
How is it measured?
Outlays minus receipts for the month, as published in the Monthly Treasury Statement. Positive = deficit.
Federal budget deficit (+) or surplus (-), monthly is published monthly by U.S. Department of the Treasury in its Monthly Treasury Statement, Table 1 release. It is measured in USD and is not seasonally adjusted. EconoMonitor holds all 156 readings since October 2013 under the publisher's code mts, keeps earlier values when the publisher revises them, and compares each release with the downloaded file before it is shown.
- Frequency: monthly; seasonal adjustment: NSA.
- Unit: USD.
- Release: Monthly Treasury Statement, Table 1, published by U.S. Department of the Treasury.
- Source series code: mts.
- Methodology: how EconoMonitor stores and checks this series.
Questions and sources
What is the latest reading of Federal budget deficit (+) or surplus (-), monthly?
$26.9 bn in September 2026, as published by U.S. Department of the Treasury.
How often is it updated?
Monthly, with each Monthly Treasury Statement, Table 1 release. EconoMonitor reloads the series after each release and keeps earlier values when the publisher revises them.
Where can I check it?
At the publisher: U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data and daily Treasury yield curve, series code mts.
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Treasury. Checks for this release: Check A passed, Check B passed.
Data and analysis only, not financial advice. Data publishers do not endorse EconoMonitor. See the disclaimer and methodology.