U.S. Government Swings to January Deficit, But FY Gap Narrows

The United States posted a smaller budget deficit than expected in January, a sign that a stronger economy is helping government coffers through a rise in tax receipts.

The federal government ran $10.4 billion into the red last month, the Treasury Department said on Wednesday in a monthly statement. Analysts polled by Reuters expected a budget deficit of $27.5 billion.

(Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Paul Simao)