March 23 (UPI) -- The federal government's budget deficit grew to $234 billion in February, the largest monthly shortfall on record, according to a Treasury Department report Friday.
Spending jumped 8 percent while receipts increased 7 percent, according to a report that came out later than expected because of the partial government shutdown that ended Jan. 25. The previous monthly deficit record was $231.7 billion in February 2012. In 2018, the deficit was $215 billion.