How close did US debt come to its ceiling in 2018?

In 2018, through 31 December 2018, room under the debt limit was lowest on 2 January 2018, at $25.00 million; it was under $1 billion on 27 statement days, and the limit was suspended on 224 days.

The debt limit in 2018 at a glance

The debt limit in 2018
Measure	Value
Statement days held	251
Lowest room left ($ million)	25
Day of the lowest room	2 January 2018
Near the limit: room under this amount ($ million)	1,000
Statement days near the limit	27
Statement days with the limit suspended	224

Room left under the limit in 2018

$ trillion

Source: U.S. Treasury, Fiscal Data, Daily Treasury Statement, Table IIIC. Observed 31 Dec 2018.

How much room was left at the end of each month of 2018?

Last statement day of each month ($ million)
Month	Date	Subject to the limit	Limit	Room left	Cash balance
January 2018	31 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	275,794
February 2018	28 February 2018	20,816,718	n/a	n/a	199,390
March 2018	30 March 2018	21,049,524	n/a	n/a	289,648
April 2018	30 April 2018	21,027,544	n/a	n/a	419,376
May 2018	31 May 2018	21,104,039	n/a	n/a	354,393
June 2018	29 June 2018	21,155,086	n/a	n/a	332,805
July 2018	31 July 2018	21,272,707	n/a	n/a	358,159
August 2018	31 August 2018	21,417,957	n/a	n/a	317,971
September 2018	28 September 2018	21,474,850	n/a	n/a	384,713
October 2018	31 October 2018	21,661,034	n/a	n/a	366,596
November 2018	30 November 2018	21,808,202	n/a	n/a	344,874
December 2018	31 December 2018	21,933,738	n/a	n/a	402,138

The table scrolls sideways; the first column stays in place.

When did the limit change in 2018?

Changes in the statutory limit ($ million; a dash means suspended)
First statement day	Limit before	Limit after
9 February 2018	20,456,000	n/a

Every statement day

Each Daily Treasury Statement of 2018 ($ million)
Date	Subject to the limit	Limit	Room left	Cash balance
31 December 2018	21,933,738	n/a	n/a	402,138
28 December 2018	21,825,688	n/a	n/a	374,086
27 December 2018	21,803,537	n/a	n/a	350,161
26 December 2018	21,820,056	n/a	n/a	368,236
24 December 2018	21,821,144	n/a	n/a	385,921
21 December 2018	21,827,072	n/a	n/a	369,800
20 December 2018	21,821,605	n/a	n/a	369,121
19 December 2018	21,831,692	n/a	n/a	396,293
18 December 2018	21,843,840	n/a	n/a	405,951
17 December 2018	21,835,038	n/a	n/a	413,686

Show 241 more rows

Each Daily Treasury Statement of 2018 ($ million) (continued)
Date	Subject to the limit	Limit	Room left	Cash balance
14 December 2018	21,778,825	n/a	n/a	311,699
13 December 2018	21,780,825	n/a	n/a	303,972
12 December 2018	21,794,912	n/a	n/a	322,663
11 December 2018	21,807,842	n/a	n/a	334,446
10 December 2018	21,812,420	n/a	n/a	345,214
7 December 2018	21,808,494	n/a	n/a	335,704
6 December 2018	21,809,009	n/a	n/a	335,333
5 December 2018	21,797,935	n/a	n/a	328,613
4 December 2018	21,795,421	n/a	n/a	324,242
3 December 2018	21,782,675	n/a	n/a	332,153
30 November 2018	21,808,202	n/a	n/a	344,874
29 November 2018	21,775,898	n/a	n/a	343,322
28 November 2018	21,760,438	n/a	n/a	332,336
27 November 2018	21,774,735	n/a	n/a	349,874
26 November 2018	21,769,601	n/a	n/a	355,284
23 November 2018	21,760,582	n/a	n/a	343,116
21 November 2018	21,727,572	n/a	n/a	317,331
20 November 2018	21,740,858	n/a	n/a	329,967
19 November 2018	21,730,160	n/a	n/a	340,443
16 November 2018	21,723,912	n/a	n/a	332,083
15 November 2018	21,721,214	n/a	n/a	327,429
14 November 2018	21,683,897	n/a	n/a	328,686
13 November 2018	21,692,237	n/a	n/a	347,277
9 November 2018	21,690,009	n/a	n/a	341,974
8 November 2018	21,690,715	n/a	n/a	343,799
7 November 2018	21,649,217	n/a	n/a	316,157
6 November 2018	21,649,876	n/a	n/a	313,269
5 November 2018	21,640,861	n/a	n/a	321,371
2 November 2018	21,634,660	n/a	n/a	316,635
1 November 2018	21,641,878	n/a	n/a	339,185
31 October 2018	21,661,034	n/a	n/a	366,596
30 October 2018	21,658,822	n/a	n/a	375,928
29 October 2018	21,656,200	n/a	n/a	381,164
26 October 2018	21,653,177	n/a	n/a	372,504
25 October 2018	21,653,877	n/a	n/a	372,379
24 October 2018	21,629,940	n/a	n/a	360,681
23 October 2018	21,641,185	n/a	n/a	374,478
22 October 2018	21,633,280	n/a	n/a	373,431
19 October 2018	21,629,651	n/a	n/a	369,528
18 October 2018	21,630,489	n/a	n/a	369,856
17 October 2018	21,612,572	n/a	n/a	360,638
16 October 2018	21,620,358	n/a	n/a	370,559
15 October 2018	21,612,653	n/a	n/a	364,651
12 October 2018	21,556,028	n/a	n/a	309,211
11 October 2018	21,547,962	n/a	n/a	306,983
10 October 2018	21,553,768	n/a	n/a	308,869
9 October 2018	21,561,480	n/a	n/a	329,788
5 October 2018	21,557,941	n/a	n/a	326,140
4 October 2018	21,557,888	n/a	n/a	329,827
3 October 2018	21,564,563	n/a	n/a	350,281
2 October 2018	21,577,875	n/a	n/a	369,434
1 October 2018	21,565,875	n/a	n/a	368,488
28 September 2018	21,474,850	n/a	n/a	384,713
27 September 2018	21,390,806	n/a	n/a	333,711
26 September 2018	21,430,663	n/a	n/a	367,243
25 September 2018	21,442,242	n/a	n/a	380,347
24 September 2018	21,434,849	n/a	n/a	380,103
21 September 2018	21,425,656	n/a	n/a	366,176
20 September 2018	21,426,251	n/a	n/a	363,997
19 September 2018	21,453,751	n/a	n/a	399,519
18 September 2018	21,458,485	n/a	n/a	405,806
17 September 2018	21,450,062	n/a	n/a	393,190
14 September 2018	21,391,006	n/a	n/a	292,893
13 September 2018	21,391,167	n/a	n/a	273,955
12 September 2018	21,410,720	n/a	n/a	297,697
11 September 2018	21,426,045	n/a	n/a	306,899
10 September 2018	21,419,457	n/a	n/a	309,612
7 September 2018	21,415,738	n/a	n/a	301,597
6 September 2018	21,413,708	n/a	n/a	306,574
5 September 2018	21,430,863	n/a	n/a	324,437
4 September 2018	21,415,006	n/a	n/a	328,486
31 August 2018	21,417,957	n/a	n/a	317,971
30 August 2018	21,401,159	n/a	n/a	341,540
29 August 2018	21,398,843	n/a	n/a	345,255
28 August 2018	21,401,067	n/a	n/a	341,177
27 August 2018	21,393,661	n/a	n/a	346,234
24 August 2018	21,386,658	n/a	n/a	339,925
23 August 2018	21,386,569	n/a	n/a	345,360
22 August 2018	21,366,106	n/a	n/a	334,992
21 August 2018	21,378,692	n/a	n/a	346,406
20 August 2018	21,372,664	n/a	n/a	352,718
17 August 2018	21,370,044	n/a	n/a	350,958
16 August 2018	21,365,727	n/a	n/a	351,762
15 August 2018	21,332,216	n/a	n/a	318,117
14 August 2018	21,311,318	n/a	n/a	348,234
13 August 2018	21,304,710	n/a	n/a	352,397
10 August 2018	21,299,528	n/a	n/a	345,053
9 August 2018	21,301,271	n/a	n/a	345,681
8 August 2018	21,258,432	n/a	n/a	311,690
7 August 2018	21,269,629	n/a	n/a	325,462
6 August 2018	21,264,960	n/a	n/a	331,580
3 August 2018	21,259,064	n/a	n/a	324,023
2 August 2018	21,272,332	n/a	n/a	344,497
1 August 2018	21,224,614	n/a	n/a	310,204
31 July 2018	21,272,707	n/a	n/a	358,159
30 July 2018	21,259,285	n/a	n/a	364,574
27 July 2018	21,258,102	n/a	n/a	356,398
26 July 2018	21,258,072	n/a	n/a	358,530
25 July 2018	21,225,609	n/a	n/a	338,978
24 July 2018	21,231,269	n/a	n/a	352,674
23 July 2018	21,223,706	n/a	n/a	355,938
20 July 2018	21,220,180	n/a	n/a	347,454
19 July 2018	21,219,403	n/a	n/a	352,247
18 July 2018	21,201,570	n/a	n/a	335,801
17 July 2018	21,216,000	n/a	n/a	347,036
16 July 2018	21,203,839	n/a	n/a	351,651
13 July 2018	21,170,855	n/a	n/a	308,129
12 July 2018	21,171,157	n/a	n/a	312,325
11 July 2018	21,168,398	n/a	n/a	316,434
10 July 2018	21,176,880	n/a	n/a	329,750
9 July 2018	21,168,476	n/a	n/a	334,686
6 July 2018	21,165,960	n/a	n/a	326,004
5 July 2018	21,162,654	n/a	n/a	326,453
3 July 2018	21,161,318	n/a	n/a	325,543
2 July 2018	21,166,524	n/a	n/a	350,599
29 June 2018	21,155,086	n/a	n/a	332,805
28 June 2018	21,087,598	n/a	n/a	352,083
27 June 2018	21,091,669	n/a	n/a	362,175
26 June 2018	21,108,764	n/a	n/a	375,921
25 June 2018	21,099,020	n/a	n/a	381,513
22 June 2018	21,089,213	n/a	n/a	374,630
21 June 2018	21,089,299	n/a	n/a	374,084
20 June 2018	21,093,908	n/a	n/a	380,090
19 June 2018	21,105,356	n/a	n/a	385,423
18 June 2018	21,091,015	n/a	n/a	373,207
15 June 2018	21,082,974	n/a	n/a	350,812
14 June 2018	21,039,798	n/a	n/a	278,287
13 June 2018	21,046,400	n/a	n/a	282,968
12 June 2018	21,058,977	n/a	n/a	287,180
11 June 2018	21,052,310	n/a	n/a	288,319
8 June 2018	21,048,144	n/a	n/a	278,084
7 June 2018	21,059,012	n/a	n/a	275,598
6 June 2018	21,061,865	n/a	n/a	289,454
5 June 2018	21,060,758	n/a	n/a	282,852
4 June 2018	21,050,072	n/a	n/a	288,988
1 June 2018	21,042,041	n/a	n/a	280,932
31 May 2018	21,104,039	n/a	n/a	354,393
30 May 2018	21,064,919	n/a	n/a	332,712
29 May 2018	21,062,169	n/a	n/a	334,815
25 May 2018	21,058,780	n/a	n/a	324,686
24 May 2018	21,045,041	n/a	n/a	311,183
23 May 2018	21,042,700	n/a	n/a	312,169
22 May 2018	21,054,275	n/a	n/a	327,648
21 May 2018	21,045,461	n/a	n/a	334,686
18 May 2018	21,039,838	n/a	n/a	327,372
17 May 2018	21,039,982	n/a	n/a	328,498
16 May 2018	21,033,652	n/a	n/a	327,748
15 May 2018	21,045,333	n/a	n/a	333,251
14 May 2018	21,013,792	n/a	n/a	347,471
11 May 2018	21,009,768	n/a	n/a	338,034
10 May 2018	21,009,840	n/a	n/a	338,237
9 May 2018	21,000,624	n/a	n/a	338,377
8 May 2018	21,014,273	n/a	n/a	354,299
7 May 2018	21,003,565	n/a	n/a	362,193
4 May 2018	20,997,035	n/a	n/a	355,182
3 May 2018	20,992,671	n/a	n/a	355,775
2 May 2018	21,004,888	n/a	n/a	384,961
1 May 2018	20,990,082	n/a	n/a	381,742
30 April 2018	21,027,544	n/a	n/a	419,376
27 April 2018	21,012,818	n/a	n/a	406,195
26 April 2018	21,014,845	n/a	n/a	395,225
25 April 2018	21,020,122	n/a	n/a	403,067
24 April 2018	21,022,810	n/a	n/a	413,608
23 April 2018	21,003,628	n/a	n/a	365,561
20 April 2018	20,998,681	n/a	n/a	336,271
19 April 2018	20,995,377	n/a	n/a	326,142
18 April 2018	21,040,290	n/a	n/a	350,943
17 April 2018	21,038,659	n/a	n/a	351,336
16 April 2018	21,031,216	n/a	n/a	262,442
13 April 2018	21,023,360	n/a	n/a	245,560
12 April 2018	21,022,307	n/a	n/a	225,320
11 April 2018	21,082,213	n/a	n/a	287,804
10 April 2018	21,095,062	n/a	n/a	302,176
9 April 2018	21,087,138	n/a	n/a	301,022
6 April 2018	21,080,165	n/a	n/a	291,637
5 April 2018	21,080,245	n/a	n/a	292,669
4 April 2018	21,078,490	n/a	n/a	300,604
3 April 2018	21,077,239	n/a	n/a	299,702
2 April 2018	21,079,523	n/a	n/a	324,262
30 March 2018	21,049,524	n/a	n/a	289,648
29 March 2018	21,072,902	n/a	n/a	333,897
28 March 2018	21,031,592	n/a	n/a	300,355
27 March 2018	21,045,373	n/a	n/a	320,422
26 March 2018	21,038,264	n/a	n/a	326,168
23 March 2018	21,028,859	n/a	n/a	320,270
22 March 2018	21,025,000	n/a	n/a	324,254
21 March 2018	20,993,188	n/a	n/a	298,973
20 March 2018	21,010,812	n/a	n/a	316,961
19 March 2018	21,004,725	n/a	n/a	328,814
16 March 2018	20,994,108	n/a	n/a	321,657
15 March 2018	20,990,966	n/a	n/a	305,460
14 March 2018	20,918,751	n/a	n/a	236,160
13 March 2018	20,933,233	n/a	n/a	253,462
12 March 2018	20,922,542	n/a	n/a	263,515
9 March 2018	20,917,069	n/a	n/a	248,269
8 March 2018	20,917,249	n/a	n/a	251,562
7 March 2018	20,840,417	n/a	n/a	187,515
6 March 2018	20,839,271	n/a	n/a	190,496
5 March 2018	20,833,119	n/a	n/a	197,244
2 March 2018	20,827,809	n/a	n/a	192,156
1 March 2018	20,834,425	n/a	n/a	213,775
28 February 2018	20,816,718	n/a	n/a	199,390
27 February 2018	20,799,720	n/a	n/a	203,846
26 February 2018	20,790,400	n/a	n/a	212,253
23 February 2018	20,782,040	n/a	n/a	204,089
22 February 2018	20,766,085	n/a	n/a	190,583
21 February 2018	20,725,157	n/a	n/a	208,817
20 February 2018	20,731,095	n/a	n/a	228,784
16 February 2018	20,721,410	n/a	n/a	224,711
15 February 2018	20,671,492	n/a	n/a	166,297
14 February 2018	20,631,434	n/a	n/a	180,845
13 February 2018	20,643,572	n/a	n/a	198,047
12 February 2018	20,635,580	n/a	n/a	206,488
9 February 2018	20,630,498	n/a	n/a	198,581
8 February 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	202,643
7 February 2018	20,455,974	20,456,000	26	202,221
6 February 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	199,964
5 February 2018	20,455,974	20,456,000	26	205,285
2 February 2018	20,455,974	20,456,000	26	200,213
1 February 2018	20,455,974	20,456,000	26	219,444
31 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	275,794
30 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	272,462
29 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	276,512
26 January 2018	20,455,974	20,456,000	26	265,889
25 January 2018	20,455,974	20,456,000	26	269,271
24 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	275,963
23 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	278,567
22 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	273,051
19 January 2018	20,455,974	20,456,000	26	264,775
18 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	261,919
17 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	256,720
16 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	259,084
12 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	215,476
11 January 2018	20,455,974	20,456,000	26	215,951
10 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	198,573
9 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	209,981
8 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	214,096
5 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	205,500
4 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	204,358
3 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	169,957
2 January 2018	20,455,975	20,456,000	25	190,038

The table scrolls sideways; the first column stays in place.

Source: U.S. Treasury, Fiscal Data, Daily Treasury Statement. Observed 31 Dec 2018.

Sources and licence

U.S. Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Fiscal Data (source). Licence: Public domain, a work of the US federal government

Our text and compilation: CC BY 4.0. How to reuse and cite this page.