U.S. debt tops $17 trillion after record jump of $328 bn in one day

The United States national debt has officially topped 17 trillion dollars, after jumping a record 328 billion dollars on Thursday.

The Treasury Department posted the debt figures online, which now equals 17.075 trillion dollars, the Washington Times reports.

According to the report, the giant jump came on the very first day when the federal government was able to borrow money under the deal signed this week between President Barack Obama and Congress.

The reason behind this hike is said to be the federal funds that the government borrowed over the last five months to avoid bumping into the debt ceiling.

This increase shattered the previous high of 238 billion dollars set two years ago, the report added.