Sallow
The Big Bad Wolf.
Read it and weep.
WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. government took in more money than it spent in April, the first monthly surplus in nearly four years.
Sponsored LinksBut that black ink won't last. The federal government is on track to exceed a $1 trillion deficit for the fourth straight year, keeping the contentious issue front and center during the 2012 presidential election.
The Treasury Department said Thursday that the U.S. deficit totaled $719 billion through the first seven months of the budget year, which began on Oct. 1. That's $150 billion lower than a year ago, but still large by historical standards.
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For April, the government recorded a surplus of $59.1 billion. That's not unusual for this time of year, given that annual tax returns are due. But this marks the first April surplus since the 2008 financial crisis, a sign that the economy is healthier and producing more tax revenue.
U.S. deficit looms large despite April surplus