And while the legal target has been met each year until this one, the actual deficit has proved to be much higher.
They have to be even more concerned about whether he can deliver the actual deficit cutting that sounds so good.
The actual deficit will almost surely turn out to be larger than the wishful forecast.
The point about the actual deficit being lower is very important.
The actual deficit is accurately reflected in the annual growth of the national debt.
The actual deficit may exceed the threshold of 3% if the situation deteriorates.
As a practical matter, officials said, the actual deficit will probably be about $200 billion because of outlays for the war.
The actual deficit for any year is often bigger than the President predicts.
The actual deficit for the fiscal year 1992, which ended three months ago, was $290.2 billion, a record.
Western economists estimate the actual deficit may be two or three times that figure.
