Facing that situation, both countries will by the end of this year have surpassed the deficit ceiling three years in a row.

Left unresolved tonight was what committee members want to do about missing the $108 billion deficit ceiling.

The 1985 law set a deficit ceiling of $108 billion for the 1988 fiscal year.

That figure is far short of the $108 billion deficit ceiling set in the budget balancing law.

Italy is also likely to breach the deficit ceiling.

The deficit ceiling for the 1988 budget, now being considered, was to have been $108 billion.

Some economists predict that Germany will breach the deficit ceiling in 2004 as well.

Based on the deficit ceilings proposed, the required cut could be even smaller for 1989.

In addition, the individual deficit ceilings for each year are raised.

New annual deficit ceilings were set, and the date for budget balance was put off till 1993.