U.S. government deficit skyrockets in February

According to the Treasury Department, the U.S. government had a $192 billion budget deficit in February as outlays far outstripped receipts.

Highlights from the official statement (via Reuters)

• The fiscal 2017 year-to-date deficit was $349 billion compared with $353 billion in the same period of fiscal 2016
• When accounting for calendar adjustments, the deficit last month was $181 billion.
• Receipts last month came to $172 billion, a 2% increase from February 2016, while outlays stood at $364 billion, up 1 percent from the same month a year earlier.