The Fed is buying $85 billion in bonds and MBS every month. The interest paid on these bonds are transferred to the U.S. Treasury in the form of 'remittance' at the end of the federal fiscal year.
Even though we're massively in debt, the government is paying less and less in interest due to declining interest rates. Below lists the amount of interest paid on debt, from the U.S. Treasury website.
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/ir/ir_expense.htm
2012 $359,796,008,919.49
2011 $454,393,280,417.03
2010 $413,954,825,362.17
2009 $383,071,060,815.42
2008 $451,154,049,950.63
2007 $429,977,998,108.20
2006 $405,872,109,315.83
2005 $352,350,252,507.90
2004 $321,566,323,971.29
2003 $318,148,529,151.51
2002 $332,536,958,599.42
2001 $359,507,635,242.41
2000 $361,997,734,302.36
1999 $353,511,471,722.87
1998 $363,823,722,920.26
1997 $355,795,834,214.66
Factoring in the $85 billion the fed transferred to Treasury, net interest payments was about $275 billion. That takes us back to 1990 levels. The economy was much smaller back then and $275 billion in interest payments was a huge burden on the budget.
For 2013, we're on track to spend about the same as 2012 on interest. There is more debt outstanding but the average interest rate on that debt has been on a steady decline for years now.
The Fed will send about $140 billion in remittance to the Treasury in 2013. Our net interest payments will then be $220 billion, back to 1988 levels.
I would not be surprised if tax revenues start soaring in the near future thanks to Helicopter Ben's QE3. If the Bernank doesn't pair back the $40 billion a month in bond purchases soon, Fed may begin buying over 100 percent of annual debt issuances. I believe that is already the case some months...
What does it all mean? I don't know. But I assume it will all end very badly. Then again, the HuffPo article doesn't seem to think so. For a real hoot, check out the 12 myths about the Fed.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/15/federal-reserve-record-profit_n_2884366.html
Even though we're massively in debt, the government is paying less and less in interest due to declining interest rates. Below lists the amount of interest paid on debt, from the U.S. Treasury website.
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/ir/ir_expense.htm
2012 $359,796,008,919.49
2011 $454,393,280,417.03
2010 $413,954,825,362.17
2009 $383,071,060,815.42
2008 $451,154,049,950.63
2007 $429,977,998,108.20
2006 $405,872,109,315.83
2005 $352,350,252,507.90
2004 $321,566,323,971.29
2003 $318,148,529,151.51
2002 $332,536,958,599.42
2001 $359,507,635,242.41
2000 $361,997,734,302.36
1999 $353,511,471,722.87
1998 $363,823,722,920.26
1997 $355,795,834,214.66
Factoring in the $85 billion the fed transferred to Treasury, net interest payments was about $275 billion. That takes us back to 1990 levels. The economy was much smaller back then and $275 billion in interest payments was a huge burden on the budget.
For 2013, we're on track to spend about the same as 2012 on interest. There is more debt outstanding but the average interest rate on that debt has been on a steady decline for years now.
The Fed will send about $140 billion in remittance to the Treasury in 2013. Our net interest payments will then be $220 billion, back to 1988 levels.
I would not be surprised if tax revenues start soaring in the near future thanks to Helicopter Ben's QE3. If the Bernank doesn't pair back the $40 billion a month in bond purchases soon, Fed may begin buying over 100 percent of annual debt issuances. I believe that is already the case some months...
What does it all mean? I don't know. But I assume it will all end very badly. Then again, the HuffPo article doesn't seem to think so. For a real hoot, check out the 12 myths about the Fed.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/15/federal-reserve-record-profit_n_2884366.html