US government posts $147 billion deficit

The US federal government posted a $147 billion budget deficit in March, according to data released on Wednesday by the Treasury Department. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a $180 billion deficit for the month.
The Treasury said federal spending in March was $376 billion, down 10 percent from the same month in 2018, while receipts were $229 billion, up 9 percent compared with March 2018. The deficit for the fiscal year to date was $691 billion, compared with $600 billion in the comparable period the year earlier.