Trump Delivers First June Budget Surplus Since 2017, Thanks To Tariffs

The Treasury Department announced on Friday that the U.S. government recorded a surplus of just over $27 billion in June, a turnaround driven in large part by a significant increase in tariff revenues. 

The Details:  The surplus came after a $316 billion deficit in May and brings the total deficit for the current fiscal year to $1.34 trillion, which is 5% higher than the same period last year, according to CNBC. 

However, after adjusting for the calendar, the deficit is actually down by 1%. With three months left in the fiscal year, receipts for June were up 13% from a year ago, while government spending dropped by 7%.

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Tariff collections have played a major role, with customs duties hitting $27 billion in June—more than three times what was collected in June 2024—following new tariffs imposed by Trump earlier this year. 

For the year, tariff revenues have reached $113 billion, up 86% from last year. 

Despite the unexpected surplus, the federal government continues to face challenges from high interest payments on its $36 trillion national debt, which totaled $84 billion in June alone. 

Additionally, the recently passed spending bill is expected to add about $3.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Why It Matters: Wall Street ended the week on a cautious note, as stocks pulled back on Friday after President Trump indicated a tougher approach to trade policy. 

A formal letter detailing new tariff plans is expected to be sent to European Union leaders soon, following Trump's recent announcement of a 35% tariff on Canadian imports beginning Aug. 1 and broad tariffs of 15% to 20% on most other trading partners.

The S&P 500, as tracked by the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:SPY), slipped by 0.2% and the Nasdaq Composite, tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) was unchanged, both having reached new record highs on Thursday.  

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped nearly 300 points, weighed down by renewed concerns over a possible escalation in global trade tensions and weak performance in industrial and financial sectors. 

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