The US government posted a $27 billion budget deficit in September 2026, reversing a $198 billion surplus in the same month a year earlier, but slightly outperforming market expectations for a $29 billion deficit.
Federal outlays rose sharply to $585 billion from $346 billion the year before. The largest spending categories were Social Security ($141 billion), health programs ($100 billion), Medicare ($93 billion), and national defense ($89 billion).
Government receipts also increased, climbing to $558 billion from $544 billion. The main revenue sources were individual income taxes ($298 billion), social insurance and retirement contributions ($149 billion), and corporate income taxes ($87 billion).
For the full 2026 fiscal year, the cumulative federal budget deficit reached $1.992 trillion.
