But if spending climbs in line with overall economic growth, Congressional analysts estimated that the projected deficits would swell by $1.4 trillion over 10 years.

And if spending continued to climb as fast as it has in the past five years, the deficits would swell by $2.8 trillion over 10 years.

If this doesn't subside, he said, the deficit could swell enough that the dollar would weaken, tending to bring inflation, higher interest rates or both.

The deficit with China, however, swelled $300 million, to $1.8 billion, a level 50 percent higher than in May 1992.

As tax revenues fell and various welfare payments rose, the deficit would swell from its current level of nearly $150 billion.

The deficit swelled to $24.6 billion, the Commerce Department reported today, an increase of 16.3 percent from the revised figure for May.

But between 1997 and 2007 public deficits swelled, public debts swelled.

Of course, deficits inevitably swell in times of economic recession.

By 1989, the deficit by this measure had swelled to $663.7 billion.

On April 28, as the state's economy worsened and the deficit swelled, the ratings agency placed California on its credit watch.