Total public debt outstanding closed at $40,047,425,768,420.22 on August 18, 2026, the first reading above $40 trillion, 154 days after the $39 trillion crossing.

Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasuries fell $72.1 billion in June to $9.30 trillion as China cut to $633.4 billion and Japan trimmed $26.4 billion. Prime held at 6.75%.

The 30-year Treasury yield closed at 5.31% on August 17, the highest since June 2007. Prime held at 6.75% and federal debt neared $40 trillion.

The Fed publishes its July 28 to 29 minutes on Wednesday, August 19. The Committee held rates 9 to 3, three officials wanted a hike, and prime stayed at 6.75%.

The federal government ran a record $432.3 billion deficit in July 2026, pushing the fiscal 2026 shortfall past $1.799 trillion, more than all of fiscal 2025 combined.

Treasury sold $25 billion of 30-year bonds at 5.216 percent on August 13, the highest yield on long-dated federal debt since 2001, as bid-to-cover slipped to 2.39.

Consumer prices rose 0.1 percent in July and 3.4 percent over 12 months. Core inflation slowed to 2.5 percent, its softest annual reading of the past year.

Treasury sold $58 billion of three-year notes at a 4.291 percent high yield on August 11, the highest since February 2025, yet demand was the strongest in nine months.