U.S. Loses Last Triple-A Credit Rating

The U.S. has lost its last triple-A credit rating.

Moody’s Ratings (partially owned by BRK) downgraded the U.S. government on Friday, citing large fiscal deficits and rising interest costs.

"Expanding budget deficits mean U.S. government borrowing will rise at an accelerating rate, pushing interest rates up over the long term, Moody’s said. The firm said Friday that it didn’t believe that any current budget proposals under consideration by lawmakers would do anything significant to reduce the persistent gap between government spending and revenues.

"The move strips the U.S. of its last remaining triple-A credit rating from a major ratings firm, following similar cuts by Fitch Ratings in 2023 and S&P Global Ratings in 2011. Moody’s downgraded the U.S. to Aa1, a rating also held by Austria and Finland.

“Successive U.S. administrations and Congress have failed to agree on measures to reverse the trend of large annual fiscal deficits and growing interest costs,” Moody’s wrote in a statement.

wsj.com - U s loses last triple a credit rating

I note we are now on par with Finland, the happiest country in the world, so maybe this is good news.

abromber