According to Bloomberg.com, the U.S Treasury Department plans to set a new record next week, by selling $81 billion in long-term debt, as part of their quarterly auctions. They plan to replace the inflation-protected 20-year bond with a reintroduced 30-year security. The move comes as an attempt to reduce the massive budget deficit of over $1 trillion.
The Treasury will auction $40 billion in three-year notes on Nov. 9, $25 billion in 10-year notes Nov. 10 and $16 billion in 30-year bonds Nov. 12. The amounts were in line with the median forecast of $80 billion in a Bloomberg News survey of nine analysts.
The U.S. is headed for a second straight year of budget deficits exceeding $1 trillion, and the country’s legal limit on debt may be reached next month. Treasury debt-management director Karthik Ramanathan told bond market participants this week to expect another year of government debt sales of $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion, minutes of the meeting showed today.
“Treasury debt managers will continue to remain aggressive in managing financing needs while minimizing potential market implications,” the Treasury said in a statement in Washington.
The government is on course to reach the debt limit, which currently stands at $12.1 trillion, by mid- to late-December, the department said. If the Treasury is forced to take evasive maneuvers to stay below the limit before Congress raises it, existing tools won’t create much extra room, officials said at a press conference.
Debt Limit
