CBO Blog

  • The Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle Program and Alternatives

    CBO compares the Army’s plan for the GCV with four options and finds that, although no option would meet all of the Army’s goals, all are likely to be less costly and pose a smaller risk of delay than CBO expects for the Army’s plan.

  • The Unemployment Insurance System

    Annual outlays on UI increased from an average of $33 billion from 2004 through 2007 to $119 billion in 2009 and $155 billion in 2010; they dropped to $93 billion in 2012 and we expect them to decline further over the next few years.

  • United States Capitol Building in Washington, DC

    A Review of CBO’s Activities in 2012 Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Of the 428 bills CBO reviewed in 2012, 68 contained intergovernmental mandates and 80 contained private-sector mandates. Of the 202 public laws enacted, 16 contain intergovernmental mandates and 23 contain private-sector mandates.

  • The Short-Term Consequences of Deficit Reduction Under Different Economic Conditions

    After a recent hearing, CBO was asked by a Member of Congress: “Are there economic conditions under which deficit reduction would have a smaller effect on unemployment and GDP than under current conditions?”

  • Projected Spending and Revenues in Historical Context

    After a recent hearing, CBO was asked by a Member of Congress: “Based on historical trends of revenue and spending, is the primary driver of deficits over the next ten years historically high spending?” Today’s post answers that question.

  • How Different Future Interest Rates Would Affect Budget Deficits

    Following a recent hearing, we were asked by a Member of Congress: “How would higher-than-expected interest rates affect federal budget deficits over the next decade?"

  • Changes in Discretionary Funding During the Past Few Years

    Following a recent hearing, a Member of Congress asked in a question for the record: “How do today’s discretionary funding levels compare with pre-recession funding levels?” Today's blog post answers that question. 

  • Answers to Questions from Members of Congress

    After participating in Congressional hearings, CBO prepares answers to “questions for the record” submitted by the Members of the Committees that held the hearings. Answers to some recent questions will be posted on the CBO Blog this week.

  • The Accuracy of CBO’s Budget Projections

    CBO routinely monitors the budgetary effects of enacted legislation to help improve projections of spending and receipts under current law, as well as to improve cost estimates for new legislative proposals.

  • U.S. Economic Performance

    Director Doug Elmendorf participated in a panel discussion about why the world economy has been performing poorly. He explained that the most costly economic problem in this country today is the large number of people who cannot find jobs.