July Deficit Hits Record $432 Billion, Pushing Fiscal 2026 Past All of 2025
The federal government ran a record $432.3 billion deficit in July 2026, pushing the fiscal 2026 shortfall past $1.799 trillion, more than all of fiscal 2025 combined.
Mitch Strohm
Mitch Strohm is the Managing Editor of PrimeRates.com and a writer, editor and digital marketer based out of Nashville, TN. Working in the industry for well over a decade, he has been the manager editor for several financial sites and has been featured in publications including Business Insider, Bankrate, The Motley Fool and Yahoo Finance.
July Core CPI Slows to 2.5% as Fed Weighs Its September Decision
Consumer prices rose 0.1 percent in July and 3.4 percent over 12 months. Core inflation slowed to 2.5 percent, its softest annual reading of the past year.
Interest on the Debt Hits $1.17 Trillion With Two Months Left in Fiscal 2026
Treasury data through July 31 shows the federal government paid $1.170 trillion to service the national debt in fiscal 2026, up 15 percent with two months left.
Fed Adds $329 Billion in Treasury Bills as Reserves Hold Near $3 Trillion
The Fed held $524.9 billion of Treasury bills on August 5, up $329.4 billion since balance sheet runoff ended, while reserve balances stalled near $3 trillion.
National Debt Reaches $39.84 Trillion, Just $159 Billion Below $40 Trillion
U.S. public debt reached $39.84 trillion on July 30, 2026, just $158.9 billion below $40 trillion, as the average interest rate on the debt climbed to 3.41 percent.
Treasury 5-Year Note Auction Stops at 4.408%, the Softest Sale of the Week
Treasury sold $70 billion of five-year notes on July 27 at a 4.408% high yield with a 2.28 bid-to-cover, the weakest of three note sales this week as the Fed meets.
Treasury 20-Year Bond Auction Stops at 5.163%, the Highest of 2026
Treasury's 20-year bond auction stopped at 5.163% on July 22, 2026, the highest of the year and up from 4.927% in June, days before the July 29 Fed decision.
Why Your Credit Card APR Follows the Fed’s 6.75% Prime Rate After FOMC Meetings
Most U.S. credit cards carry a variable APR tied to the 6.75% prime rate. Here is how a Fed decision reaches your statement and what a July 29 hold means.
Treasury 2-Year Yield Falls to 4.13% as Cool CPI, PPI Trim July Hike Bets
The two-year Treasury yield fell to 4.13% after June CPI and PPI cooled, trimming the odds of a July Fed rate hike. Here is what lower yields mean for your money.
The Fed’s Dual Mandate: Why 3.4% Inflation Clashes With a Softening Job Market
The Fed's dual mandate requires both maximum employment and 2 percent inflation. With core PCE at 3.4 percent and unemployment at 4.2 percent, the two goals now clash.