The United States recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 124.30 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - United States Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about United States Government Debt: % of GDP

• United States Government debt accounted for 120.9 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Jun 2025, compared with the ratio of 122.3 % in the previous quarter.
• US government debt to GDP ratio data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1969 to Jun 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 130.3 % in Mar 2021 and a record low of 31.8 % in Sep 1974.

CEIC calculates quarterly Government Debt as % of Nominal GDP from monthly Government Debt and rolling sum of quarterly Nominal GDP. The Bureau of the Fiscal Service provides Government Debt in USD. The Bureau of Economic Analysis provides Nominal GDP in USD. Government Debt covers Central Government only.


Related information about United States Government Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, US National Government Debt reached 38,040.1 USD bn in Oct 2025.
• The country's Nominal GDP reached 7,621.4 USD bn in Jun 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Federal government current expenditures: Interest payments (A091RC1Q027SBEA) from Q1 1947 to Q2 2025 about payments, expenditures, federal, government, interest, GDP, and USA.

Public sector net debt amounted to 93.5 percent of gross domestic product in the United Kingdom during the 2024/25 financial year. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, UK government debt has reached levels not seen since the early 1960s, due to a significant increase in borrowing in 2020/21. After peaking at 251.7 percent shortly after the end of the Second World War, government debt in the UK gradually fell, before a sharp increase in the late 2000s at the time of the global financial crisis. Debt not expected to start falling until 2029/30 In 2024/25, the UK's government expenditure was approximately 1.28 trillion pounds, around 44 percent of GDP. This spending was financed by 1.14 trillion pounds of revenue raised, and almost 150 billion pounds of borrowing. Although the UK government can continue to borrow money to finance its spending, the amount spent on debt interest has increased significantly in recent years. Current forecasts suggest that while the debt is eventually expected to start declining, this is based on falling government deficits in the next five years. Government facing hard choices Hitting fiscal targets, such as reducing the national debt, will require a careful balancing of the books from the current government, and the possibility for either spending cuts or tax rises. Although Labour ruled out raising the main government tax sources, Income Tax, National Insurance, and VAT, at the 2024 election, they did raise National Insurance for employers (rather than employees) and also cut Winter Fuel allowances for large numbers of pensioners. Less than a year after implementing cuts to Winter Fuel, the government performed a U-Turn on the issue, and also held back on more significant cuts to welfare.

Government Debt in the United States increased to 38040094 USD Million in October from 37637553 USD Million in September of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Government Debt- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Outlays: Interest as Percent of Gross Domestic Product (FYOIGDA188S) from 1940 to 2024 about outlays, federal, percent, interest, GDP, and USA.

Adding to national debt is an inevitable fact of being President of the United States. The extent to which debt rises under any sitting president depends not only on the policy and spending choices they have made, but also the choices made by presidents and congresses that have come before them. Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush President Ronald Reagan increased the U.S. debt by around **** trillion U.S. dollars, or ****** percent. This is often attributed to "Reaganomics," in which Reagan implemented significant supply-side economic policies in which he reduced government regulation, cut taxes, and tightened the money supply. Spending increased under President George W. Bush in light of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. To finance the wars, President Bush chose to borrow the money, rather than use war bonds or increase taxes, unlike previous war-time presidents. Additionally, Bush introduced a number of tax cuts, and oversaw the beginning of the 2008 financial crisis. Barack Obama President Obama inherited both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the financial crisis. The Obama administration also did not increase taxes to pay for the wars, and additionally passed expensive legislation to kickstart the economy following the economic crash, as well as the Affordable Care Act in 2010. The ACA expanded healthcare coverage to cover more than ** million more Americans through programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Though controversial at the time, more than half of Americans have a favorable view of the ACA in 2023. Additionally, he signed legislation making the W. Bush-era tax cuts permanent.

The statistic shows the gross national debt of the United States from 2019 to 2024 in relation to the gross domestic product (GDP), with projections up until 2030. In 2024, the national debt of the United States was at around 120.79 percent of the gross domestic product. See the US GDP for further information. US finances There has been a dramatic increase in the public debt of the United States since 1990, although the month-to-month change has been quite stable over the last few months. Public debt is defined as the amount of money borrowed by a country to cover budget deficits. A ranking of individual state debt in the United States shows that California is leading by a clear margin, with more than double the amount of runner-up New York. Vermont, North Dakota and South Dakota are the states with the lowest amount of debt. Even before the recession of 2008, the national debt of the United States had been increasing steadily and excessively, and it is predicted to rise even further. Budget cuts and fewer job opportunities as a result of the crisis are taking their toll on the American economy, which is still recovering. Trade figures as well as unemployment are still below average. Subsequently, the national debt and the national debt of the United States per capita have more or less quadrupled since the 1990s. Interestingly, the United States is not even among the top ten of countries with the highest public debt in relation to gross domestic product in international comparison. Japan, Greece and Italy – among others – report far higher figures than the United States.

This report argues that Moldova’s government could reduce fiscal risks to the economy by reducing the size of spending and improving its efficiency, making the tax system simpler, with fewer tax preferences, and strengthening the tax administration. After years of robust performance, in 2015–16 Moldova’s public finances came under pressure. Fraud in the banking sector and economic recession have pushed up public debt, reducing fiscal space and undermining investor confidence. Grants from donors have fallen. Less revenue has forced the government into an ad hoc spending adjustment, with an abrupt reversal of the recent welcome trend of higher capital spending. The government could address these challenges along three dimensions: fiscal stance and sustainability, spending, and revenues. First and foremost, nonetheless, it should concentrate on gradually reducing current spending. As experience in other countries has demonstrated, fiscal consolidation based on spending cuts in a context and circumstances similar to these in Moldova, may yield better results than one based on tax increases. The first dimension to consider is safeguarding fiscal sustainability. The second dimension is reducing the size and improving the efficiency of spending. The third dimension is making the tax system simpler. Moldova collects more revenues than peer countries but also depends on external grants. As in most other Eastern European countries, the revenue structure is skewed toward taxes on goods and services (indirect taxes). Moldova’s tax revenues have been declining as tax exemptions proliferated. While the tax administration has improved, continuing deficiencies in capacity and governance cannot deal with the problem of high informality. Moldova could make the tax system simpler, more efficient, and revenue-enhancing by reducing tax preferences, increasing the nontaxable amount of the personal income tax, improving property valuation, increasing excises, improving tax administration, reducing compliance costs, and simplifying the tax structure. Most importantly, the government needs to deal with tax expenditures, since tax initiatives over the last 15 years resulted in the adoption of a wide range of reduced tax rates and tax exemptions, with significant costs for the budget. In the short term, additional revenues might supplement expenditure cuts to safeguard fiscal sustainability. In the longer term, though, Moldova would need to find substitutes for external grants, so that they gradually become a relatively smaller source of revenues.

India recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 81.92 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides - India Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In the third quarter of 2024, Greece's national debt was the highest in all the European Union, amounting to 158 percent of Greece's gross domestic product. In spite of Greece's total being high by EU standards, it marks a substantial decrease from the historical high point reached by the country's national debt of 207 percent of GDP in 2020. Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal also all have government debt worth over one year's production of their economies, while the small Baltic country of Estonia has the smallest national debt when compared with GDP, at only 24 percent. In debitum incrementum?A country’s national debt, also known as government debt or public debt, is defined as all borrowings owed by the government of a country. It usually comprises internal debt – owed to other governmental departments – and external debt, which is held by the public and is owed to government bond owners. National debt can be caused by a struggling economy in general, or by low tax income, which usually leads to money being borrowed from other governments for support, which in turn cannot be paid back right away. At first glance, a high national debt is not always a sign of a struggling economy – but since increasing debt can slow down economic growth significantly, it is imperative for the respective government to seek a steady reduction in the long run.

Data may not add to the total due to rounding. End of fiscal year closest to December 31st. For 2007 only stocks for balance sheet statement are available, they represent the opening stocks for 2008, the start of the observed period. Consolidation is a method of presenting statistics for a set of units as if they constituted a single unit. In this table, the data is presented for consolidated governments. Consolidation involves the elimination of all transactions and debtor-creditor relationships that occur among the units being consolidated. In other words, a transaction of one unit is paired with the same transaction as recorded for the second unit and both transactions are eliminated. For example, if one provincial and territorial government unit owns a bond issued by a second provincial and territorial government unit located in a different province and data for the two units are being consolidated, then the stocks of bonds held as assets and liabilities are reported as if the bond did not exist. Includes federal government, provincial and territorial governments, health and social service institutions, universities and colleges, municipalities and other local public administrations and, school boards. Does not include the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Quebec Pension Plan (QPP). Only the Canada geography dimension is available. Includes provincial and territorial governments, health and social service institutions, universities and colleges, municipalities and other local public administrations and, school boards. The Canada and provincial geography dimension are available. Balance sheet data can be displayed as flows or stocks. Flows are monetary expressions of economic actions that occur within the accounting period. Stocks refer to holdings of assets and liabilities at a specific time - the end of the accounting period. Gross operating balance equals total revenues less expense other than consumption of fixed capital. The net operating balance is a summary measure of the ongoing sustainability of the government operations. Net operating balance equals total revenues less total expenses. Includes the part of the profits of fiscal monopolies transferred to the government. Fiscal monopolies are government business enterprises that exercise the taxing power of government by the use of monopoly powers over the production or distribution of a particular kind of good or service. Typical commodities subject to fiscal monopolies are alcoholic beverages, lotteries and games of chance. Includes racetrack betting taxes, other amusement taxes, taxes on meals and hotels, taxes on insurance premiums, and taxes on specific services not elsewhere classified. Rent should not be confused with the rental of produced assets, which is treated as sales of goods and services. The difference in treatment arises because lessors of produced assets are engaged in a production process whereby they provide services (maintaining inventories, repairing and maintaining the leased assets). In the case of rent, general government units that own land or subsoil assets merely place these assets at the disposal of other units and are not considered to be engaged in productive activity. Mineral royalties for Newfoundland and Labrador include both mining taxes and mineral royalties. Includes other natural resource royalties, natural resource exploration fees and licences, leases of land, rent and property income not elsewhere classified. Miscellaneous revenue includes auto insurance premiums, drug plan premiums and revenue not elsewhere classified. It may also include the consolidation statistical discrepancy. This discrepancy reflects differences between paired transactions (e.g. grant revenue and grant expense) and must be recorded in the statement of operation in order to preserve the operating balances (gross or net). While in theory, the paired transactions to be consolidated should be of the same value, in practice, they are not always aligned as a result of multiple cause (availability of economic and counterparty classification details, time of recording, different fiscal year end, deferrals, etc.). When paired transactions are eliminated, there must be no impact on the operating balance, therefore a consolidation statistical discrepancy is recorded in revenue or expense, depending on the situation. Canadian Government Finance Statistics (CGFS) estimates for compensation of employees and use of goods and services are adjusted to account for the capitalisation of research and development expenses using data from the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts (CSMA). This memorandum item provides the amounts capitalised for research and development to facilitate comparison with the Public Accounts. Within the Canadian Government Finance Statistics system (CGFS), the value of nonfinancial assets and related consumption of fixed capital is estimated using the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts (CSMA) perpetual inventory method (PIM). The results of the PIM model can differ substantially from the values found in the public accounting sources of a specific level of government. In order to better understand these differences, the value of nonfinancial assets and related consumption of fixed capital found in the Public Accounts are presented in the memorandum items consumption of fixed capital according to public sector accounts" and "Nonfinancial assets according to public sector accounts". For more information on the PIM model please consult additional information on the survey or statistical program in the CANSIM related information tab." Other miscellaneous current expenses include expenses of insurers and miscellaneous other current expenses not elsewhere classified. They may also include the consolidation statistical discrepancy. This discrepancy reflects differences between paired transactions (e.g. grant revenue and grant expense) and must be recorded in the statement of operation in order to preserve the operating balances (gross or net). While in theory, the paired transactions to be consolidated should be of the same value, in practice, they are not always aligned as a result of multiple cause (availability of economic and counterparty classification details, time of recording, different fiscal year end, deferrals, etc.). When paired transactions are eliminated, there must be no impact on the operating balance, therefore a consolidation statistical discrepancy is recorded in revenue or expense, depending on the situation. Memorandum items provide supplemental information or alternative presentation of related items, but the memorandum items amounts are not included in Canadian Government Finance Statistics (CGFS) structure and totals. Total expenditures equals expense plus the net acquisition of nonfinancial assets less consumption of fixed capital. The current CANSIM table does not include total expenditures as integration work is underway. The balance sheet records the stocks of assets, liabilities, and the net worth for each accounting period. Net worth is defined as the total assets less total liabilities and is an important measure for assessing the sustainability of fiscal activities. The balance sheet components include domestic and foreign counterparts. The net financial worth position equals total stock of financial assets minus liabilities. Includes the following assets: securities repurchase agreement (repo), financial derivatives, taxes receivable, interest receivable, other accounts receivable, deposits, prepaid expenses, other financial assets not elsewhere classified and related allowances. Includes the following liabilities: securities repurchase agreement (repo), financial derivatives, taxes payable, interest payable, other payable, deposits due, deferred revenue and contributions, discounts and premiums on outstanding debt, other liabilities not elsewhere classified and related allowances. In the Canadian Government Finance Statistics system (CGFS), liabilities are valued at current market prices, but this memorandum item provides the alternate nominal value. The nominal valuation only differs from the current market prices in the case of debt securities. The nominal value is the amount that the debtor owes to the creditor at any moment. It reflects the value of the instrument at creation and subsequent economic flows, such as transactions, valuation changes (excluding market price changes), and other changes, such as debt forgiveness. Conceptually, the nominal value is equal to the required future payments of principal and interest discounted at the existing contractual interest rate. Nominal value is not necessarily face value, which is the undiscounted amount of principal to be repaid. The Quebec Abatement consists of a reduction of 16.5 percentage points of federal personal income tax for all tax filers in Quebec. This Abatement is the sum of the Alternative Payments for Standing Programs and the Youth Allowances Recovery. The Government of Canada reduced, or “abated”, personal income tax while Quebec increased its personal income taxes by an equivalent amount. In the Canadian government finance statistics framework, Quebec receive the value of these extra tax points through its own income tax system under the “Taxes on income, profits and capital gains payable by individuals” category, while other provinces receive the corresponding amounts in cash under the “Grants from general government units” category. This memorandum item presents the Abatement as calculated by the Ministère des finances du Québec and facilitate comparisons, between provinces, of tax revenue and Grants. An extensive review of subsidies classification in the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts has determined that several entries in source data should be reclassified as subsidies on production, from subsidies on products. The reclassification is based on the interpretation of subsidies as per the 2008 System of

In 2023, the U.S. government had a budget deficit of 1.69 trillion U.S. dollars. This is compared to 2000, when the government had a budget surplus of 0.24 trillion U.S. dollars.

U.S. Government budget

The government budget is a financial statement that demonstrates the government’s suggested revenues and spending for the financial year. Budget surpluses occur when income exceeds expenditures. Budget deficits occur when spending exceeds income. The budget balance of the U.S. government has fluctuated since 2016, and is expected to decrease slightly by 2026.

Military spending

Defense outlays in the United States amounted to 714 billion U.S. dollars in 2020. It is expected to continue to increase over the next several years. The United States currently has the largest defense budget in the world, and is the largest employer in the world. The military budget funds the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force. The amount of funding that goes towards the Department of Defense is heavily criticized by Democrats in the United States, because they believe that the funding should be more evenly distributed towards other social welfare programs such as public health insurance and education.

General Obligation Bonds Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the global General Obligation Bonds market size reached USD 1.26 trillion in 2024, reflecting a robust foundation for municipal and governmental funding worldwide. This market is expected to experience a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% from 2025 to 2033, forecasting a total market value of USD 1.81 trillion by 2033. The expansion of the General Obligation Bonds market is primarily driven by increased infrastructure investment, fiscal stimulus measures by governments, and the ongoing need for public sector financing to address critical societal needs.

The growth trajectory of the General Obligation Bonds market is strongly influenced by rising government expenditure on infrastructure development projects. As urbanization accelerates, both developed and emerging economies are prioritizing the modernization of transportation networks, utilities, and public facilities. General Obligation Bonds, backed by the full faith and credit of the issuing government, offer a reliable financing mechanism for such long-term capital-intensive projects. The secure nature of these bonds, coupled with their tax-exempt status in many jurisdictions, attracts a broad base of institutional and retail investors, further fueling market demand. Additionally, the increasing emphasis on sustainable development and green infrastructure is prompting governments to issue more bonds to support environmentally responsible projects, thereby bolstering the marketÂ’s growth prospects.

Another significant growth factor for the General Obligation Bonds market is the evolving landscape of public finance management. Governments are increasingly adopting prudent fiscal policies to ensure debt sustainability while meeting the rising expectations of citizens for quality public services. The shift towards transparent and accountable governance practices has enhanced investor confidence in general obligation debt instruments. Moreover, the growing sophistication of municipal debt markets, aided by digital platforms and advanced analytics, is improving market liquidity and accessibility. These advancements are enabling a more diverse group of issuers, including smaller municipalities and special districts, to tap into the bond market efficiently, thereby expanding the overall market size.

A third pivotal driver is the resilience of the General Obligation Bonds market during periods of economic uncertainty. Unlike revenue bonds, which are tied to specific project revenues, general obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s taxing power, making them less susceptible to project-specific risks. During times of fiscal stress or economic downturns, investors often seek the relative safety and predictability of general obligation bonds, viewing them as a stable asset class within their portfolios. This “flight to quality” phenomenon has been particularly evident in recent years, as geopolitical tensions and global economic volatility have reinforced the appeal of government-backed securities. As a result, the market continues to attract significant capital inflows, supporting further issuance and market growth.

Regionally, North America remains the dominant force in the General Obligation Bonds market, accounting for over 45% of the global market size in 2024. The United States, in particular, boasts a mature and highly liquid municipal bond market, underpinned by strong legal frameworks and investor protections. Europe follows closely, with increasing bond issuance for green and social infrastructure projects, especially in Western European countries. The Asia Pacific region is emerging as a high-growth market, propelled by rapid urbanization and ambitious public investment programs in countries such as China and India. Meanwhile, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are witnessing gradual market development, supported by ongoing fiscal reforms and efforts to enhance capital market infrastructure. These regional dynamics are shaping the competitive landscape and influencing the evolution of the global General Obligation Bonds market.

In recent years, the financial landscape has seen the emergence of Additional Tier 1 Bonds as a significant instrument for banks to bolster their capital reserves. These bonds,

The statistic shows the 20 countries with the lowest national debt in 2024 in relation to the gross domestic product (GDP). The data refer to the debts of the entire state, including the central government, the provinces, municipalities, local authorities and social insurance. In 2024, Russia's estimated level of national debt reached about 20.3 percent of the GDP, ranking 16th of the countries with the lowest national debt. National debt and GDP The debt-to-GDP ratio is an indicator of a country’s ability to produce and sell goods in order to pay back any present debts, however these countries should not retain newer debts in the process. Many economists believe that if a country is able to produce more without impairing its own economical growth, it can be considered more stable, particularly for the future. However, the listed countries, with the exception of Russia and Saudi Arabia, are not necessarily economic first-world powers. Additionally, economically powerful countries such as the United States and France maintain one of the highest debt-to-GDP ratios, signifying that occurring debt does not necessarily damage the state of the economy and is sometimes necessary in order to help develop it. Saudi Arabia has maintained one of the lowest debt-to-GDP ratios due to its high export rates, which primarily consist of petroleum and petroleum goods. Given the significance of oil in today’s world, Saudi Arabia produces enough oil and earns enough revenue to maintain a high GDP and additionally refrain from incurring debt.

Graph and download economic data for Personal Saving Rate (PSAVERT) from Jan 1959 to Aug 2025 about savings, personal, rate, and USA.

This statistic shows the national debt in the member states of the European Union in the second quarter of 2024. The data refer to the entire state and are comprised of the debts of central government, provinces, municipalities, local authorities and social security. In the second quarter of 2024, Greece's national debt amounted to about 369.4 billion euros. National debt in the EU member states National or government debt is the debt owed by a central government. No country in the European Union is debt-free, although some are able to manage their debts better than others. Debt is influenced by the economic situation of a country, factors such as unemployment, the rate of inflation or the trade figures have a significant impact on its extent, and are, in turn, influenced by the national debt. The economic crisis has hit some EU countries harder than others; Spain, Ireland and Greece especially have been struggling economically since 2008. Greece’s national debt has skyrocketed over the past few years, and the same can be said about Spain and Ireland. Other EU countries, like France and the United Kingdom have been affected as well, albeit not as severely. The national debt of a country can be reduced by applying several measures: money can be borrowed (for example in the form of rescue packages), austerity programs can be enforced, taxes can be increased or central banks can inject liquidity into the economy through the implementation of quantitative easing policies. Some critics of the policy claim that this could lead to a higher level of inflation, which, if severe enough, could have a detrimental impact on living standards.

In 2025, approximately half of consumers in the United States expecting a tax return refund intended to save that money. Around 30 percent of respondents planned to either pay down debt or use the money for everyday expenses.

As of July 22, 2025, the yield for a ten-year U.S. government bond was 4.38 percent, while the yield for a two-year bond was 3.88 percent. This represents an inverted yield curve, whereby bonds of longer maturities provide a lower yield, reflecting investors' expectations for a decline in long-term interest rates. Hence, making long-term debt holders open to more risk under the uncertainty around the condition of financial markets in the future. That markets are uncertain can be seen by considering both the short-term fluctuations, and the long-term downward trend, of the yields of U.S. government bonds from 2006 to 2021, before the treasury yield curve increased again significantly in the following years. What are government bonds? Government bonds, otherwise called ‘sovereign’ or ‘treasury’ bonds, are financial instruments used by governments to raise money for government spending. Investors give the government a certain amount of money (the ‘face value’), to be repaid at a specified time in the future (the ‘maturity date’). In addition, the government makes regular periodic interest payments (called ‘coupon payments’). Once initially issued, government bonds are tradable on financial markets, meaning their value can fluctuate over time (even though the underlying face value and coupon payments remain the same). Investors are attracted to government bonds as, provided the country in question has a stable economy and political system, they are a very safe investment. Accordingly, in periods of economic turmoil, investors may be willing to accept a negative overall return in order to have a safe haven for their money. For example, once the market value is compared to the total received from remaining interest payments and the face value, investors have been willing to accept a negative return on two-year German government bonds between 2014 and 2021. Conversely, if the underlying economy and political structures are weak, investors demand a higher return to compensate for the higher risk they take on. Consequently, the return on bonds in emerging markets like Brazil are consistently higher than that of the United States (and other developed economies). Inverted yield curves When investors are worried about the financial future, it can lead to what is called an ‘inverted yield curve’. An inverted yield curve is where investors pay more for short term bonds than long term, indicating they do not have confidence in long-term financial conditions. Historically, the yield curve has historically inverted before each of the last five U.S. recessions. The last U.S. yield curve inversion occurred at several brief points in 2019 – a trend which continued until the Federal Reserve cut interest rates several times over that year. However, the ultimate trigger for the next recession was the unpredicted, exogenous shock of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, showing how such informal indicators may be grounded just as much in coincidence as causation.

The statistic shows the inflation rate in India from 1987 to 2024, with projections up until 2030. The inflation rate is calculated using the price increase of a defined product basket. This product basket contains products and services, on which the average consumer spends money throughout the year. They include expenses for groceries, clothes, rent, power, telecommunications, recreational activities and raw materials (e.g. gas, oil), as well as federal fees and taxes. In 2024, the inflation rate in India was around 4.67 percent compared to the previous year. See figures on India's economic growth for additional information. India's inflation rate and economy Inflation is generally defined as the increase of prices of goods and services over a certain period of time, as opposed to deflation, which describes a decrease of these prices. Inflation is a significant economic indicator for a country. The inflation rate is the rate at which the general rise in the level of prices, goods and services in an economy occurs and how it affects the cost of living of those living in a particular country. It influences the interest rates paid on savings and mortgage rates but also has a bearing on levels of state pensions and benefits received. A 4 percent increase in the rate of inflation in 2011 for example would mean an individual would need to spend 4 percent more on the goods he was purchasing than he would have done in 2010. India’s inflation rate has been on the rise over the last decade. However, it has been decreasing slightly since 2010. India’s economy, however, has been doing quite well, with its GDP increasing steadily for years, and its national debt decreasing. The budget balance in relation to GDP is not looking too good, with the state deficit amounting to more than 9 percent of GDP.