📊 U.S. Federal Government Revenue & Expenditure as a % of GDP (1948-2024)

In 2024, federal expenditure reached 23.1% of GDP, the highest in the past 76 years, excluding 2009 (financial crisis) and 2020-2022 (COVID era). 🚨

U.S. federal debt isn’t just a U.S. issue, it can impact all Western economies due to their deep economic ties with the U.S.

🔹 Key Insights

• 📉 Deficit Crisis: The U.S. federal deficit stands at 6.3% of GDP, the highest outside of crisis years (COVID-19: 2020-21, Global Financial Crisis: 2009-12).
• 💰 Debt Interest Burden: In 2024, federal interest payments hit $0.9 trillion, accounting for 3% of total U.S. GDP; a growing strain on government finances.
• 📊 Balanced Budget Exception: The only federal budget surplus in the last 55 years occurred between 1998-2001.
• 🔗 The Gold Standard Shift: Since Nixon ended the gold standard in 1971, the gap between government spending and revenue has generally widened.
• 🌎 Global Implications: The U.S. benefits from the dollar’s reserve currency status, allowing it to sell bonds easily. However, rising debt and possible declining confidence in the U.S. dollar could lead to financial instability in the coming decades.

🔎 What’s Next?

The U.S. federal government may need a combination of spending cuts and increased revenue to ensure long-term fiscal stability.