Where Do You Get Your Deficit Numbers?

[HikerGuy83]

I get my yearly numbers from:

Fiscal Data Explains the National Deficit

Check out @FiscalService Fiscal Data’s new national deficit page! #NationalDeficit

fiscaldata.treasury.gov

I have to scrounge for my monthly numbers.

I will sometimes use the Pete Peterson Foundation numbers.

The Current Federal Deficit and Debt

See the latest numbers on the national deficit for this fiscal year and how it compares to previous years.

www.pgpf.org

Not everyone posts the same values.

Just wondering where you get yours.

 

[Winston]

I get my yearly numbers from:

Fiscal Data Explains the National Deficit

Check out @FiscalService Fiscal Data’s new national deficit page! #NationalDeficit

fiscaldata.treasury.gov

I have to scrounge for my monthly numbers.

I will sometimes use the Pete Peterson Foundation numbers.

The Current Federal Deficit and Debt

See the latest numbers on the national deficit for this fiscal year and how it compares to previous years.

www.pgpf.org

Not everyone posts the same values.

Just wondering where you get yours.

Federal Surplus or Deficit [-]

Graph and download economic data for Federal Surplus or Deficit [-] (MTSDS133FMS) from Oct 1980 to Apr 2026 about budget, federal, and USA.

fred.stlouisfed.org

 

[HikerGuy83]

Federal Surplus or Deficit [-]

Graph and download economic data for Federal Surplus or Deficit [-] (MTSDS133FMS) from Oct 1980 to Apr 2026 about budget, federal, and USA.

fred.stlouisfed.org

Many thanks !!!!

This is great. You can download this into excell!

 

[Darkwind]

Usually, the wife.

 

[1srelluc]

I just don't look....It's like looking at your stock portfolio in a down market.....You know it will suck.

Besides, given the spending habits of Rs and Ds it's not like you can do anything about it but try to run out the clock.

 

[Stryder50]

https://www.usdebtclock.org/

A wealth of numbers and information, drawn from a range of US guv'mint sources.

For a starting place.

 

[HikerGuy83]

https://www.usdebtclock.org/

A wealth of numbers and information, drawn from a range of US guv'mint sources.

For a starting place.

Can you get history from this?

 

[HikerGuy83]

I've run into the problem repeatedly.

This is the site......

Fiscal Data Explains the National Deficit

Check out @FiscalService Fiscal Data’s new national deficit page! #NationalDeficit

fiscaldata.treasury.gov

This says its an official site of the U.S. Government. I've used it in the past and I recall this issue before. Even back then I was looking for more detailed information on why.

Here is the issue.

At the end of year 1 ==> the debt is = X

Year 2 runs a deficit of Y

At the end of year 2 the debt is X + Y

This has always been the simple explanation and if you look at the site it pretty much says the same thing. As do others.

Cont'd

 

[HikerGuy83]

Now to look at the site data......

They show the debt in 2022 to be 33.77T.
They show the debit in 2023 to be 35.04T.

View attachment 1247932

From that, you would say that the fiscal 2023 deficit was (35.04-33.77) or 1.27 trillion dollars. Right off the bat that isn't what has been reported (Biden was NEVER below 1.5 trillion....NEVER).
Cont'd

 

[TNHarley]

Deficits and the debt are very important to me. Huge deficits and debt are the opposite of freedom. Especially when the money used goes against your morals.
That being said, I dont even look anymore. It will only get worse. People are too tribal, and both tribes spend like drunken sailors.
So this will only get worse. History is on my side.

 

[HikerGuy83]

So I look at the formula.......for deficit which is

Revenue - Spending. The site has values for both.

So revenue is at 4.69 trillion.

Spending is at 6.48 trillon.

Soe the deficit is 4.69 - 6.48 = 1. 79 trillion. A number I am more familiar with.

I have run into this on other sites that give numbers. Very frustrating.

I have gone to this site:

U.S. National Debt by Year (1940–2025) — Historical Data & Download

Complete U.S. national debt by year from 1940 to 2025. Free downloadable CSV with total debt, debt-to-GDP, debt per person, and annual deficits.

www.us-debt-clock.com

The have the 2022 debt at 30.82, almost ten% lower than the site shown above.
Then they have the 2023 debt at 33.17 trillion.
That would be a 2022 deficit of 33.17 - 30.82 or 2. 35 trillion.

Even the treasury site has another place where they call out "total debt".

It shows total debt of 33.17 trillion (end of fiscal 2023). This is consistent with the debt clock.

It also shows debt of 30.93 trillion....end of fiscal 2022. This is close to the debt clock.

Total deficit would have been 2.24 trillion.

Very frustrating.....

Cont'd

 

[HikerGuy83]

If you go to a different tab on the debt clock site......

You get:

So now the total debt lines up with the fiscal first shown....33.17for 2023 and 30.82 for 2022. Difference is 2.35 trillion....but Fical 2023 deficit is 1.695

This is not trivial. I can sometimes not see the simplest explanation...so if anyone knows....I would be grateful. I am just trying to use the right numbers.

I have heard that in some cases, they will look at cash on hand and apply that as an asset and reduce the debt by that much (the delta). But why not say that?

I have thick skin when it comes to being corrected....again...appreciate any help.

BTW: I just asked copilot what the deficits were (last five years.....) It took the numbers right off the debt clock.

 

[Stryder50]

Can you get history from this?

What sort of history ?
Why don't you visit the site and see ... also try asking them.
The do offer a "time machine tab" that goes back to select times from @1980 to present.
...
Just now noticed your later post ...