Federal deficits are projected to be high despite low unemployment
Surplus(+) or Deficit(-) (% of GDP) for Years Unemployment was Below 6%
Actual
Projected
50-year average deficit in low unemployment periods: 2.7%
Proj. 10-year average deficit: 5.8%
−1.6%
−3%
−2.8%
−3.8%
−2.2%
−1.4%
−0.3%
0.8%
1.3%
2.3%
1.2%
−1.5%
−3.4%
−3.4%
−2.5%
−1.8%
−1.1%
−3.1%
−2.4%
−3.1%
−3.4%
−3.8%
−4.6%
−12.1%
−5.4%
−6.2%
−6.4%
−6.2%
−5.5%
−5.2%
−5.7%
−5.5%
−5.9%
−5.9%
−6%
−6.5%
−6.1%
−5.8%
