The US budget deficit more than tripled to a record 1.4 trillion dollars in the year to 30 September, according to US Congress estimates. Congressional analysts had previously predicted a deficit of 1.6 trillion Dollars but revised their latest estimate, which comes after the end of the fiscal year. The huge deficit was put down to increased government spending and a big drop in tax revenues. <br/><br/>The Treasury Department will report the actual deficit later this month. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said the deficit was equal to 9.9% of gross domestic product (GDP). <br/><br/>The previous record deficit was 459 billion Dollars, set last year. The CBO said the increased spending was due in large part to the government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program, the 787 billion Dollar economic stimulus and the rescue of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. <br/>