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World21 Aug 2026

Why the US economy is ringing alarm bells

The US hit a debt milestone this week, but just how worried should we be about the world's largest economy?

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The US hit a debt milestone this week, but just how worried should we be about the world's largest economy? This week they hit the headlines when US national debt passed the $40tn (£29.4tn) mark, raising concerns both at home and abroad. It took almost 200 years for US national debt to reach $1tn for the first time, says Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. "Jumping to America's 250th year, we are spending more than that just on interest payments on our debt." Hitting the $40tn milestone was expected, driven by public spending surges under both the Donald Trump and Joe Biden administrations, but it marks another line in the sand. Ballooning costs for social programmes and other spending have outstripped revenues undermined by tax cuts. Add to that higher interest rates in response to recent inflation shocks and the picture begins to look grim. At the beginning of Trump's first presidential term in 2016, US national debt stood at just under $20tn.

ประโยคและวลีที่ใช้ได้จริงจากเรื่องนี้

Useful phrases from this story

worried should we be aboutCollocation

เราต้องกังวล.

From the storyThe US hit a debt milestone this week, but just how worried should we be about the world's largest economy?

raising concerns both at homeCollocation

สูงความกังวลทั้งในบ้าน.

From the storyThis week they hit the headlines when US national debt passed the $40tn (£29.4tn) mark, raising concerns both at home and abroad.

for the first timeExpression

เป็นครั้งแรก.

From the storyIt took almost 200 years for US national debt to reach $1tn for the first time, says Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Jumping to America'sCollocation

กระโดดไปยังอเมริกา.

From the story"Jumping to America's 250th year, we are spending more than that just on interest payments on our debt." Hitting the $40tn milestone was expected, driven by public spending surges under both the Donald Trump and Joe Biden administrations, but it marks another line in the sand.

are spending more than thatCollocation

ใช้จ่ายมากกว่านั้น.

From the story"Jumping to America's 250th year, we are spending more than that just on interest payments on our debt." Hitting the $40tn milestone was expected, driven by public spending surges under both the Donald Trump and Joe Biden administrations, but it marks another line in the sand.

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