WASHINGTON: The AP reported an hour ago that the Federal deficit hit a record high in October, $176.4 billion. (Just billions… nothing to worry about, now that the trillion has become the new billion). This comes during a time of plunging revenues while at the same time Congress is spending borrowed money at a record rate.

According to Martin Crutsinger and Daniel Wagner of the AP:

The deficit for the 2009 budget year, which ended on Sept. 30, set an all-time record in dollar terms of $1.42 trillion. That was $958 billion above the 2008 deficit, the previous record holder. [Emphasis added]

October was the 13th straight month to show a monthly deficit — another record. It was the fifth-largest monthly deficit ever.  Martin Crutsinger and Daniel Wagner, Newser.com

The 2008 deficit, the previous record holder: $462 billion. The 2009 deficit: $1.42 trillion, three times larger than the largest deficit on record. And to think some in Congress are calling for Stimulus II.

You can see the effect on the National Debt at our running counter on the right. We hope US citizens are saving money to pay all this back. Either that or voters might want to start thinking about replacing this administration.

• Check here before discarding/donating empty toner cartriges MyMoneyBlog recently posted on how to get cheap toner using eBay and a Staples buyback of empty print cartridges for $3 each. I had thought that Staples must make out like a bandit with this deal -- surely the cartridge is a lot more expensive than the toner, so they......
• Record Deficit Ain't No Thang to Obama and McCain On Monday, the folks on Pennsylvania Ave that run US America announced the budget deficit for 2009 will exceed $482 billion.  If you include war costs it passes the $500 billion mark.  Both would be records.  I'm sure George Bush has a bucket list that includes setting some type......