Reckless Federal Shopping Spree Could Squander $50 Billion

Today marks the end of the federal government’s fiscal year. It’s also the biggest one-day shopping spree of the year– the day when federal agencies rush to spend the last of their money before October 1, before anything left over is returned to the Treasury. Since agencies cannot carry over unspent funds, the idea is “use it or lose it.

Only a monetary ‘nuclear bomb’ can save Italy now

If so, Italy’s public debt will spiral to dangerous levels next year, ever further beyond the point of no return for a country without its own sovereign currency and central bank. “This is catastrophic for the finances of the country. We’re heading for a debt ratio of 145pc next year,” said Antonio Guglielmi, global strategist for Mediobanca.