"The long-term deficit forecast played a role," he said.

Since 1982, the five-years-ahead deficit forecast has understated the actual outcome by an average of about $200 billion.

Some deficit forecasts for this fiscal year are already over $250 billion.

The average deficit forecast in each of those years is now approximately $1.215 trillion.

The shortfall is in addition to the $61 million deficit forecast last summer.

Could it be they want to act before this year's tax receipts lead to new deficit forecasts?

Analysts expressed concern that the increased debt and deficit forecasts could spread the economic pain further into the future.

And we will have to wait and see on the deficit forecast won't we?

The average deficit forecast in each of those years as of June 2009 was approximately $1,215 billion.

The deficit forecast in 2011 increased to $1.42 trillion, up from the $1.27 estimate in February.