Moody’s upgrades U.S. debt outlook to ‘stable’

7/19/2013
BLADE STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

WASHINGTON — Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded the outlook for U.S. government debt to “stable” from “negative” and affirmed the United States’ blue chip Aaa rating.

The rating agency cited a surprising drop in the federal deficit, the difference between what the government collects in taxes and what it spends. The U.S. government is on track to report its lowest annual deficit in five years.

Through the first eight months of the budget year, the deficit has totaled $509.8 billion, according to the Treasury. That is nearly $400 billion lower than the same period last year.

Moody’s had lowered the outlook to “negative” two years ago.