AARP Hearing Center
The public debt has increased by more than $500 billion each year since fiscal 2003, with increases of $1 trillion in fiscal 2008, $1.9 trillion in fiscal 2009 and $1.7 trillion in fiscal 2010.
SOURCE: Treasury Department
See all terms in the National Debt Glossary
Frequently Asked Questions: National Debt
- How did the national debt get to be so big?
- What's the difference between the debt and the deficit?
- Why can't the government just print more money to get out of debt?
- How much U.S. debt is owned by foreign countries?
See all questions about the national debt. >>