Figure 3. Total public federal debt, percent change from year ago, 2016–2026

Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury. Fiscal Service, "Federal Debt: Total Public Debt [GFDEBTN]," retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, accessed August 19, 2026, https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1XSy3.
Note: Shaded area indicates U.S. recession.