Prior month -$308 billion Federal budget deficit $164 billion versus $156.75 billion estimate. A year ago, the deficit was $161 billion
Details:
Fiscal 2026 year-to-date deficit $1.169 trillion versus $1.307 trillion in 2025. Down 11% YoYMarch Net customs receipts and $22.16 billionBudget outlays $549 billion versus $528 billion in March 2025Receipt $385 billion, record for month of March, versus $368 billion in March 2025.Corporate refunds up 77%individual refunds up 9%Defense spending 3% higher compared to one year ago
Some additional looks:
War-related outlays, such as for replenishing weapons inventories, would come in later months.Customs duty collections softened in the month following the U.S. Supreme Court’s annulment of President Donald Trump’s broadest global tariffs imposed under an emergency law.Customs receipts totaled $22.2 billion in March, down from $26.6 billion in February and monthly totals in the low $30 billion range late last year, but up from $8.2 billion in March 2025.
This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.