Tariff revenue soars more than 300% as U.S. awaits Supreme Court decision

Group 1 - The U.S. government reported a smaller deficit in January compared to the previous year, with customs duties from tariffs reaching $30 billion for the month, contributing to a fiscal year-to-date total of $124 billion, which is 304% higher than the same period in 2025 [1][2] - The budget deficit for the fourth month of the fiscal year was approximately $95 billion, a decrease of about 26% from the same period last year, leading to a year-to-date federal deficit of $697 billion, down 17% from fiscal 2025 [4] - The Supreme Court is expected to make a ruling on the legality of the tariffs, which could have significant implications for federal finances, including potential reimbursement of collected duties if the ruling is unfavorable [3] Group 2 - Interest payments on the U.S. debt, which stands at $38.6 trillion, amounted to $76 billion for the month, making it the second-largest expenditure after Medicare, Social Security, and healthcare, with year-to-date gross interest totaling $426.5 billion, an increase from $392.2 billion the previous year [5]