Economic Indicators

US budget deficit hits highest level in 6 years

The federal budget deficit has surged to $779 billion in fiscal 2018, its highest level in six years as President Donald Trump's tax cuts caused the government to borrow more heavily in order to cover its spending.

APNewsBreak: US eyes military bases for coal, gas exports

The Trump administration is considering using West Coast military bases or other federal properties as transit points for shipments of U.S. coal and natural gas to Asia as officials seek to bolster the domestic energy industry and circumvent environmental opposition to fossil fuel exports, according to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and two Republican lawmakers.

US federal government posts widest deficit since 2012

The deficit in the 12 months through September was $113 billion - or 17 percent - bigger than in the same period a year earlier. Adjusting for calendar effects, the gap was even larger, the Treasury official said.

US retail sales edged up in September

U.S. consumer spending edged up a slight 0.1 percent in September, a disappointing performance in which rebounding auto sales was offset by weakness in other areas.