WASHINGTON — The federal government ran a $193.5 billion deficit in February, the Treasury reported Thursday.
The deficit followed a $10.3 billion deficit in January. The February deficit was smaller than the median $220 billion deficit predicted by economists polled by Thompson Reuters.
Outlays in February totaled $337.9 billion, compared to $306.2 billion in January. Receipts totaled $144.3 billion in February, compared to $296.0 billion for the previous month.
Fiscal year to date, there was a $377.4 billion deficit, compared to a $494 billion deficit for the same period last year. The federal government's 2014 fiscal year began Oct. 1.
In February 2013, the government ran a $203.5 billion deficit. A Treasury official said that 48 of the last 60 Februarys had deficits.
Year-over-year changes to February and to fiscal year-to-date results were impacted by timing-related transactions, Treasury said. Taking into account calendar adjustments, February 2014 would have had a $195 billion deficit, which is $9 billion less than the adjusted deficit in February 2013. The adjusted fiscal year to date deficit through February 2014 is $334 billion, compared to an adjusted $494 billion fiscal year to date deficit through February 2013.
