Perilous Times
US budget deficit hits record $221 billion
The US deficit in 2008 stood at $459bn
BBC - The US government recorded a budget deficit of $221bn (£147.6bn)
in February - the largest monthly deficit in its history.
The total deficit since the beginning of the fiscal year in October now
stands at $651.6bn, the figures from the US treasury show.
That puts it on track to beat last year's record annual budget deficit
of $1.4tn.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner called the deficit "unsustainable".
However, he maintained that running the deficit was helping the US
continue its recovery from the recession in the short-term.
Like the UK, the US is suffering from a fall in tax receipts due to
tough economic conditions, while relying on increased spending to drive
the recovery.
But analysts called the figures "frightening".
Earlier this year, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said it
expected the budget deficit to fall this year as the recovery takes
hold.