Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 24, 1994                   TAG: 9402240173
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES BUDGET SURPLUS

The government said it collected $15.6 billion more than it spent last month. That compares with a $29.8 billion surplus a year ago - when the total was inflated by a quirk in the timing of the mailing of Social Security checks.

Economists said Wednesday's report may signal some underlying good news for the deficit.

Revenues in January were $123 billion, up 9.1 percent from a year ago. Spending totaled $107.4 billion, up 29.5 percent from January 1993.

For the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, the deficit is $76.4 billion, down 15.7 percent from $90.6 billion during the first four months of the previous fiscal year.

Revenues amounted to $410.2 billion, up 8.6 percent from the same period a year ago.

Spending for the current fiscal year totaled $486.6 billion, up 3.9 percent from the same period last year.

Once again, the biggest spending categories were the military, Social Security and other programs of the Department of Health and Human Services, and interest on the national debt.