The U.S. Treasury Department released a report finding “that under the accrual method of accounting, the deficit for 2006 would have totaled $449.5 billion, not the widely reported $247.7 billion incurred under the cash system of accounting.” The finding was released in a 166-page “Financial Report of the United States Government” for the 2006 budget year. Congress ordered the government to start issuing annual reports using the accrual method in an effort to show the finances in a way that was comparable with the private sector. Link to the Financial Management Service - A Bureau of the United State Department of the Treasury: http://www.fms.treas.gov/fr/index.html Link to the 2006 Financial Report of the United States Government: http://www.fms.treas.gov/fr/06frusg/06frusg.pdf An article on this subject is available at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061215/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/federal_deficit Michelle