Raising dollars to remedy this is mostly a state function, but unexpected federal surpluses also help.

Current assets exceed current liabilities by a hefty margin, and the government uses this "surplus" to help finance its budget deficit.

It gets help from the surplus countries, which in cutting their surpluses buy more American exports and help reduce the trade deficit that way.

The making of maple sugar supplied home requirement and the surplus, bartered with the merchant, helped to secure needed family supplies.

Her surplus helped secure the election of a running mate.

The surplus helped send China's foreign currency reserves soaring further, lifting the economy to another year of extremely strong growth, Chinese officials announced.

The surplus also would help bail out the cash-strapped University of Connecticut Health Center, which needs $20 million to cover operating losses.

He said the surplus would help the city preserve and expand municipal services during the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The modest surplus can help improve service but is hardly enough to make major progress in meeting riders' needs.

That surplus has helped push the world price down to as little as 55 ecus per tonne.