US Treasury reports $113B surplus in April, biggest in 5 years; helps lower US deficit

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Treasury says it took in a surplus of $113 billion in April, the largest in five years. That lowered the federal deficit through the first seven months of the budget year and kept it on pace to be the smallest since 2008.

Steady economic growth and higher tax rates have boosted the government’s tax revenue, while spending has declined.

Through the first seven months of the budget year, the deficit was $488 billion. That’s lower than last year’s deficit of $720 billion over the same period.

A smaller deficit is taking pressure off of negotiations to raise the borrowing limit. Lawmakers and the Obama administration agreed to suspend the borrowing limit until May 18. But higher revenues and less spending could push the deadline off until the fall.