US budget deficit totals $743.6 billion over past 6 months
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government’s budget deficit for the first half of this budget year totals $743.6 billion, up 7.6% from last year and well on its way to topping $1 trillion even before the impacts of the coronavirus were felt. The Treasury Department reported Friday that the deficit from October, the start of the government’s budget year, through  March was $52.5 billion higher than the same period a year ago.