Charted: Here’s Who Owns U.S. Debt

Tina Collins

14 Dec 2024 — 1 min read

Charted: Here’s Who Owns U.S. Debt

Total U.S. Debt:

Increased from $34.4 trillion (end of 2023) to $36.1 trillion (December 2024).

Experts worry about its sustainability.

Debt Composition (2023):

Public debt (borrowed from domestic/foreign investors): $27.3 trillion (79%).

Intragovernmental debt (internal government transactions): $7.0 trillion (21%).

Major Holders of Debt:

Federal Reserve System: Largest domestic holder, owning $5.24 trillion.

Public Debt:

Represents external borrowing by the U.S. Treasury.

Equaled 97% of the U.S. GDP as of December 2023.

Key for funding government operations and managing economic crises.

Debt Cause:

Occurs when government spends more than it earns through taxes, leading to budget deficits.

Deficits are covered by issuing Treasury securities (bills, notes, bonds).

Under the New Administration (2025):

President-elect Donald Trump appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the new "Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)."

Goal: Identify and reduce wasteful spending, potentially saving $2 trillion and addressing the national debt.

CHINA: RETAIL SALES AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION BEAT EXPECTATIONS

CHINA: RETAIL SALES AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION BEAT EXPECTATIONS Grew 4% YoY in February, matching expectations and improving from January's 3.7%. Increased by 5.9% YoY, surpassing the 5.3% forecast but slower than January’s 6.2% growth.

GOLD PRICE SITS NEAR RECORD HIGH, CONTINUES TO DRAW SUPPORT FROM THE GLOBAL FLIGHT TO SAFETY

Gold price is near its highest level ever. People are buying gold because of global economic worries. Traders expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in 2025. The U.S. dollar is weak, which helps gold stay strong. Investors see gold as a safe place to keep

CHINA FEBRUARY 2025 NEW HOME PRICES FALL 4.9% YoY, 0.1% MoM

CHINA FEBRUARY 2025 NEW HOME PRICES FALL 4.9% YoY, 0.1% MoM New home prices fell 4.9% YoY and 0.1% MoM in February. The housing sector remains under pressure, with January showing a 5% YoY decline. PBOC set USD/CNY reference rate at 7.1688, the strongest

WEEK AHEAD – CENTRAL BANKS IN FOCUS AMID TRADE WAR TURMOIL

Federal Reserve (Fed): Will decide on interest rates while worrying about a possible recession. Bank of Japan (BoJ): Traders are watching for signs that Japan might raise interest rates. Swiss National Bank (SNB): Expected to cut interest rates by 0.25%. Bank of England (BoE): Likely to keep rates the

Read more

CHINA: RETAIL SALES AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION BEAT EXPECTATIONS

GOLD PRICE SITS NEAR RECORD HIGH, CONTINUES TO DRAW SUPPORT FROM THE GLOBAL FLIGHT TO SAFETY

CHINA FEBRUARY 2025 NEW HOME PRICES FALL 4.9% YoY, 0.1% MoM

WEEK AHEAD – CENTRAL BANKS IN FOCUS AMID TRADE WAR TURMOIL