sept 13 reuters  the us government posted a 220 billion budget deficit for august up 29 from the 171 billion gap reported in the same month last year as spending on health services education and interest on the public debt outstripped a doubledigit increase in revenues the treasury department said on tuesday the treasury said that receipts in august grew by 35 billion or 13 from a year earlier to 304 billion with a 25 billion or 11 increase in individual income tax withholdings accounting for most of the gain but outlays climbed by 84 billion or 19 to 523 billion leading to only the second yearoveryear increase in the federal deficit so far in fiscal 2022 which ends on sept 30 the other yearoveryear increase occurred in november 2021 the yearoveryear spending increase last month was led by a 50 billion or 153 spike in outlays for medicare the health insurance program for the elderly and a 19 billion or 127 jump in education spending a 30 billion or 53 increase in interest on treasury securities reflects the interest rate increases that have accelerated this year as the federal reserve has fought to contain the highest inflation in four decades for the first 11 months of fiscal 2022 the deficit fell 65 to 946 billion from 271 trillion in the prioryear period which contained the bulk of the spending from president joe bidens 19 trillion american rescue plan act