America’s fiscal health and economic strength are closely linked. Putting our nation on a sustainable fiscal path creates a positive environment for economic growth. With a strong fiscal foundation, the nation will have increased access to capital, more resources for future public and private investments, improved consumer and business confidence, and a stronger safety net.
However, if we fail to act, the opposite is also true. If our long-term fiscal challenges remain unaddressed, our economic environment weakens as confidence suffers, access to capital is reduced, interest costs crowd out key investments in our future and the conditions for growth deteriorate — all harming the prospects for the next generation.
Below is a selection of charts providing an overview of the U.S. economic outlook.
Attribution Policy: If you would like to use any of these charts, please credit the "Peter G. Peterson Foundation" and provide the pgpf.org website URL and hyperlink. If you would like to include one of our charts in a commercial product, please email [email protected].
Further Reading
What Is Stagflation, and How Would It Affect the National Debt?
Stagflation is rare, but when it does happen, it can have significant negative consequences for the economy and the national debt.
What Are Interest Costs on the National Debt?
Interest costs are on track to become the largest category of spending in the federal budget.
Fed Raises Rates for First Time Since 2023 as Interest Costs Top $1 Trillion
High interest rates on U.S. Treasury securities increase the federal government’s borrowing costs.