U.S. posts $108 billion budget deficit in March

Reuters
U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew holds a two dollar note as he speaks during an event about currency redesign hosted by the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, October 14, 2015. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government posted a $108 billion budget deficit in March, more than double the amount from the same period last year, the Treasury Department said on Tuesday. The government had a deficit of $53 billion in March of 2015, according to the Treasury's monthly budget statement. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a $104 billion deficit for last month. Accounting for calendar adjustments, March would have shown a $102 billion deficit compared with an adjusted $89 billion deficit in March 2015. The current fiscal year-to-date deficit was $461 billion, up 5 percent from a $439 billion deficit this time last year. Receipts last month totaled $228 billion, while outlays stood at $336 billion. (Reporting by Megan Cassella; Editing by Andrea Ricci)