Recent Budget Surplus/Deficit
In billions of dollars. Fiscal years. The U.S. Government fiscal year begins on October 1 of the preceding year (Wikipedia). Source: the White House.

1977 -53.7
1978 -59.2
1979 -40.7
1980 -73.8
1981 -79.0
1982 -128.0
1983 -207.8
1984 -185.4
1985 -212.3
1986 -221.2
1987 -149.7
1988 -155.2
1989 -152.5
1990 -221.2
1991 -269.3
1992 -290.4
1993 -255.1
1994 -203.2
1995 -164.0
1996 -107.5
1997 -22.0
1998 69.2
1999 125.6
2000 236.4
2001 127.3
2002 -157.8