US had $106.5B surplus in April

US had $106.5B surplus in April

WASHINGTON

The United States posted a budget surplus in April, but the deficit so far for the 2016 year remains wider than it was in 2015.

The April surplus came in at $106.5 billion, down from an April surplus a year earlier of $156.7 billion, the Treasury Department said Wednesday. Aprils normally are a good month for the budget: Thanks to annual tax receipts, April has registered a surplus in 48 of the past 62 years.

But seven months into the fiscal year, the deficit was $354.6 billion, up from $282.8 billion over the same period a year earlier.

Alaska Airlines, JetBlue top survey

Alaska Airlines and JetBlue Airways still rank highest in the annual J.D. Power survey of passengers on the nine largest North American airlines, and the firm says overall traveler satisfaction with the industry is at a 10-year high.

J.D. Power said Wednesday that Alaska Airlines ranked highest among traditional airlines for the ninth- straight year and JetBlue was the top-rated low-cost carrier for the 11th year in a row.

Associated Press