Treasury Yields Hit Multi-Decade Highs as Deficit Nears $2.1 Trillion

On August 18, 2026, U.S. Treasury yields reached multi-decade highs as the federal deficit neared $2.1 trillion, per Fox Business. With outstanding debt near $40 trillion, higher yields push up the government's borrowing costs. For households, those rising yields flow straight into mortgage and consumer-loan rates.