US fiscal 2026 budget deficit rises to $1.99 trillion, largest in 5 years
Oct 16 (Reuters) — The US budget deficit rose by $217 billion to $1.99 trillion in the 2026 fiscal year, fueled in part by tariff refunds and record spending to service the nation's more-than $40 trillion in debt, marking the largest budget shortfall in five years, Treasury Department figures reported on Friday showed.