By Sharon Nunn 

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. government's budget deficit widened 21% in the first ten months of the fiscal year when compared with the same period a year earlier -- as spending jumped.

The deficit, or the difference between the amount of money the federal government spent and what it took in, totaled $683.97 billion in October through July, the Treasury Department said Friday. The deficit was $566.02 billion during the same period a year earlier.

Friday's release showed the federal budget deficit was $76.87 billion in July, 79% wider than July 2017's deficit. Government revenue fell 3% last month compared with a year earlier, while spending grew 10%.

(More to Come)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 10, 2018 14:15 ET (18:15 GMT)