in dollars

in percent GDP

1863 - Gross federal debt exceeded $1 billion for first time.

1865 - Federal spending exceeded $1 billion for first time.

1914 - Federal spending exceeded $1 billion for second time.

1918 - Gross federal debt exceeded $10 billion for first time.

1921 - Bureau of the Budget established by Budget and Accounting Act.

1943 - Gross federal debt exceeded $100 billion for first time.

1970 - Office of Management and Budget created.

1982 - Gross federal debt exceeded $1 trillion for first time.

1987 - Federal spending exceeded $1 trillion for first time.

2009 - Gross federal debt exceeded $10 trillion for first time.

1792 - Federal debt at 35 percent GDP.

1795 - Federal spending at two percent GDP.

1854 - Federal debt at one percent GDP.

1865 - Federal spending at 13 percent GDP at height of Civil War.

1867 - Federal debt at 32 percent GDP after Civil War.

1907 - Federal spending at 2.2 percent GDP.

1913 - Federal debt at 7.5 percent GDP.

1919 - Federal spending at 24 percent GDP at height of World War I.

1919 - Federal debt at 35 percent GDP after World War I.

1929 - Federal spending at 3.7 percent GDP.

1929 - Federal debt at 16 percent GDP.

1945 - Federal spending at 48 percent GDP at height of World War II.

1946 - Federal debt at 122 percent GDP after World War II.

1951 - Federal spending at 14.4 percent GDP.

1981 - Federal debt at 32 percent GDP.

1982 - Federal spending at 23 percent GDP.

1995 - Federal debt at 66 percent GDP.

2000 - Federal spending at 18 percent GDP.

2009 - Federal spending at 24 percent GDP.

2011 - Federal debt at 97 percent GDP.