The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the final FY2014 federal budget deficit was 486 billion, $195 billion lower than FY2013. The decline in the deficit resulted from higher government revenues (+$239 billion), while federal spending increased only $44 billion.
This is the lowest recorded annual budget deficit since FY2008 (-$458 billion) and is almost $100 billion lower than the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) projected in its Mid-Session Review in July.
When measured as a percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the deficit dropped to 2.8 percent from 4.1 percent in FY2013. This is below the average for the past 40 years and significantly lower than the 9.8 percent recorded in 2009.
According to CBO, revenue growth was led by a seven percent increase (+$114 billion) in individual income and payroll tax withholding due to higher wages and salaries and the expiration in the temporary 2 percent reduction in payroll taxes (for social security). Other nonwitholding individual income tax receipts (principally estimated tax payments) rose by $43 billion. Corporate incomes tax receipts increased by $48 billion mainly due to higher taxable profits.
Federal spending grew by only one percent (+$44 billion) in FY2014, according to CBO. Spending on federal discretionary and mandatory programs increased by only +$9 billion (0.3 percent) as increases for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid (totaling +$87 billion) were offset somewhat by declines in military spending (-$30 billion), unemployment insurance payments (-$24 billion), and other program outlays (-$24 billion). However, spending on interest on the debt rose by $12 billion and lower net payments to government sponsored enterprises (such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are considered offsetting receipts) resulted in a $23 billion increase to outlays.
Data on government expenditures and receipts and the deficit are reported in the Monthly Statement of Receipts and Outlays of the United States Government (MTS) prepared by the Treasury Department. Treasury will report the official FY2014 budget deficit later this month.
