The US national debt exceeded $40.5 trillion for the first time, reaching a new all-time high. Already on August 18, the scope of commitments reached 40 trillion, and then added another 500 billion dollars in less than three months. The accumulated volume of loans is particularly noticeable in a ten-year comparison. At the end of October 2016, the US national debt stood at $19.8 trillion – more than half of its current level. During this period the amount increased by at least 20.7 trillion dollars. Government bonds allow the federal government to finance spending by drawing money from investors. Moreover, each new issue increases the total volume of liabilities that must be serviced and then refinanced. Crossing the $40.5 trillion threshold does not reflect a one-time event, but rather a continuous expansion of the American public debt. The last 500 billion were added after the threshold of the previous round was reached.

The US national debt exceeded $40.5 trillion for the first time, reaching a new all-time high. Already on August 18, the scope of commitments reached 40 trillion, and then added another 500 billion dollars in less than three months. The accumulated volume of loans is particularly noticeable in a ten-year comparison. At the end of October 2016, the US national debt stood at $19.8 trillion – more than half of its current level. During this period the amount increased by at least 20.7 trillion dollars. Government bonds allow the federal government to finance spending by drawing money from investors. Moreover, each new issue increases the total volume of liabilities that must be serviced and then refinanced. Crossing the $40.5 trillion threshold does not reflect a one-time event, but rather a continuous expansion of the American public debt. The last 500 billion were added after the threshold of the previous round was reached.