Who Is Keeping Tabs On Government Spending?

Group 1: Economic Indicators - The gross federal debt of the United States has surpassed $38 trillion, marking the fastest addition of $1 trillion outside of a pandemic, with a rate of increase now twice that seen since 2000 [4][5] - The U.S. now has a gross debt to GDP ratio of approximately 119% and an annual deficit exceeding 7%, placing it among nations with lower credit ratings than its former AAA peers [5] Group 2: Government Spending and Fiscal Policy - There is a lack of political will to address popular entitlement programs and defense expenditures, contributing to the unsustainable trajectory of national debt [5][6] - The ongoing government shutdown, now the second-longest on record, is tied to disputes over fiscal spending, including tax credits under the Affordable Care Act [6] Group 3: Market Reactions - Safe havens like gold have seen significant gains this year, reflecting investor concerns over rising debt levels and a weakening dollar [5] - WTI crude futures increased following new U.S. sanctions against Russia's top oil companies, indicating market sensitivity to geopolitical events [3]