Still running a deficit means money has to be borrowed and the debt is higher but....a pay down on the increased debt is surprising? Yes, it is surprising, surprising how stupid they think we are that it can’t be seen as the nonsense that it is.
Higher tax revenue and spending cuts mean the deficit is not as much as expected but it’s still a deficit and it still means money needs to be borrowed ergo the debt is increased.
Clinton was good at these games. Obama is lame at it but is good at intimidating the press and others, so expect it to run in the press for awhile to talk up his ‘accomplishment’.
http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=220813
since September 28th 2012 (the last business day for which this was reported) there has been a net $762.6 billion of new debt added to the Federal balance sheet, not $488 billion.