Debt Ceiling Highest Since World War II

The current debt ceiling is $16.4 trillion. It was last raised in January of 2011—recall the fiscal cliff, Super Committee, and sequester—and has increased by 54 percent since 2008.

Since 1940, the debt ceiling has been increased 94 times. The average amount by which Democratic presidents raised the debt ceiling is 16.8 percent. For Republican presidents that number is 5.6 percent.

The debt ceiling to GDP ratio is higher now (104.8 percent) than at any time after World War II.