Friday, May 10, 2013

Buried News: We Have the Biggest Monthly Budget Surplus in 5 years?

You would think that the White House would hang this news from a banner on the South Lawn.

The U.S. government had a budget surplus of $113 billion in April, the largest monthly surplus in five years, the Treasury Department reported Friday. The April surplus was $54 billion more than the same month a year ago. Tax receipts were $407 billion, up 28% compared to April 2012, while spending was $294 billion, 13% more than the year-ago period. April is usually a surplus month because of income tax payments. Through the first seven months of fiscal 2013, the deficit was $488 billion, 32% narrower than during the same period last year.

We usually run a surplus during April but I love how income growth is outpacing expense growth by nearly double for the first time in I don't know how long. Add this to the narrowing Trade Deficit and America might actually make some money for a little while.

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