America’s gross national debt hit an eye-watering $33 trillion for the first time in September — and in fact is currently closer to the $34 trillion mark.
In response, the U.S. is now spending more in gross interest on Treasury debt securities than it does on national defense, according to the Treasury’s latest monthly statement.
The heart of JPMorgan’s concern lies in the burgeoning national debt, which hit a new peak at $34 trillion in January 2024. This figure, growing uncontrollably, poses a potential crisis for the U.S. stock markets. According to JPMorgan strategist Michael Cembalest, the U.S. is inching closer to a point of debt unsustainability with each fiscal stimulus. Despite the history of deteriorating U.S. government finances with minimal immediate impact on investors, Cembalest warns that this trend could shift dramatically, likening the situation to the aforementioned ‘boiling frog’ analogy.
Simultaneously, the de-dollarization efforts spearheaded by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) are adding to the U.S.’s economic woes. The ambition of these nations to challenge the dollar’s global supremacy could potentially exacerbate the U.S. economy’s vulnerabilities. If BRICS succeeds in moving away from the dollar, it could undermine the U.S. economy’s standing, creating a perilous mix of high debt and reduced global financial influence.
I don’t worry about the National debt. It’s pointless. politicians have been talking about it and doing nothing for decades. I see no sign of this changing.