What Is the U.S. National Debt Clock?

The national debt clock tracks the U.S. debt, which topped $18 trillion on December 15, 2014.

The clock is physically located on West 44th Street and Avenue of the Americas in New York. It was conceived by Seymour Durst, who put the first national debt clock up at Sixth Avenue and 42nd Street on February 20, 1989, when the national debt was nearing $2.7 trillion and 50% of GDP.

Durst said, “If it bothers people, then it's working.”

The debt clock faithfully recorded the increasing U.S. debt until 2000, when the prosperity of the 1990s created enough revenue to reduce the federal budget deficit and debt. It seemed as if the debt clock had done its job.

The Debt Clock Tracks the Growing U.S. Debt

Unfortunately, that prosperity didn’t last. The 2001 recession and the 9/11 terrorist attacks meant lower revenues, higher spending and more deficits to add to the debt. The clock was reactivated in July 2002, and then moved in 2004. When the debt exceeded $10 trillion in September 2008, one more digit was added.

It took 13 years for the debt to double. By 2002, it had grown to $6 trillion, but only 46% of GDP, around $45,000 per household. It only took eight years to double again. The $700 billion bailout and raised it to $12 trillion in 2010, which was 85% of GDP and $86,000 per household.

The debt reached a new record on August 31, 2012. That's when it reached $16 trillion.

This made the debt bigger than annual economic output, as measured by Gross Domestic Product, which was $15.6 trillion as of the second quarter of 2012.

In addition to installing the clock, Durst bought ads on the front page of the New York Times. His May 26, 1991 message was prophetic: "Federal debt soaring, national economy shrinking, soon the twain shall meet." (Source: Times Magazine, The Times Square Debt Clock, October 14, 2008)

How much is the debt now? You don't need to fly to New York and see the debt clock to find out. Simply go to the U.S. Treasury web site: Debt to the Penny.

Why Is the Debt Clock Important?

The debt clock shows how much the U.S. government owes its citizens, other countries and itself. Since 79% of its revenue comes from individual taxes, that means it is counting on you to pay it back one day. And, since corporations can pass their tax costs through to you by raising prices, this means that essentially 100% of the debt must be paid by you, your children or your grandchildren through higher taxes. Uncertainty about when taxes will be raised dampens expectations of future economic growth. This threatens to lower the quality of life for future generations.

Second, increasing debt means the government is becoming more involved in your life through the programs the debt is paying for. Third, since much of the debt is financed by loans from foreign governments, they now have a voice in what happens in the U.S. Fourth, as the debt approaches the debt ceiling, politicians must vote to raise the ceiling. If the vote fails, as the Greek government did in early 2010, the U.S. could be plunged into crisis. In short, the higher the debt, the greater the risk of fiscal crisis. By watching the national debt clock, you will be aware of this risk, and how much you ultimately owe.

Why the Debt Keeps Growing

The debt is an accumulation of budget deficits. Year after year, the government cut taxes and increased spending. In the short run, the economy and voters benefited from deficit spending. Furthermore, foreign debt holders like China and Japan, allow the U.S. to run a large tab because it's such a good customer. They haven't demanded the higher interest payments that usually keeps government debt in check.

How Is the Debt Financed?

The U.S. national debt is the sum of all outstanding debt owed by the Federal Government. Nearly two-thirds is the public debt, which is owed to the people, businesses and foreign governments who bought Treasury bills, notes and bonds.

The rest is owed by the government to itself. Most of this is owed to Social Security and other trust funds, which were running surpluses. These securities are a promise to repay these funds when Baby Boomers retire over the next 20 years. (Source: U.S. Treasury, Debt FAQ)

The Debt Clock Warning

Two factors that allowed the U.S. debt to grow are now being withdrawn. First, the Social Security Trust Fund took in more revenue through payroll taxes leveraged on Baby Boomers than it needed. Ideally, this money should have been invested to be available when the Boomers retire. In reality, the Fund was "loaned" to the government to finance increased deficit spending. This interest-free loan helped keep Treasury Bond interest rates low, allowing more debt financing. However, it's not really a loan, since it can only be repaid by increased taxes when the Boomers do retire.

Second, many of the foreign holders of U.S. debt are investing more in their own economies. Over time, diminished demand for U.S. Treasuries could increase interest rates, thus slowing the economy. Furthermore, this lessening of demand is putting downward pressure on the dollar. That's because dollars, and dollar denominated Treasury Securities, are becoming less desirable, so their value declines. As the dollar declines, foreign holders get paid back in currency that is worth less, which further decreases demand. Article updated January 6, 2015