The U.S. government posted a surplus of $127.17 billion in the 2001 budget year, a fall from the record surplus seen in the prior year and the first time since 1992 the annual federal budget picture has deteriorated. 
The Treasury Department and the Office of Management and Budget said on Monday the dwindling surplus reflected in part lower revenues due to a faltering U.S. economy. 
"The (revenue) shortfall was largely related to lower-than-expected collections of individual income taxes and corporation income due to the slowing economy," the agencies said in a joint press release. 
The decrease in the surplus from the record $236.92 billion in fiscal 2001 marked the first time since 1992 there has not been either a smaller deficit or a larger surplus in the government's accounts on an annual basis. 
The 2001 fiscal picture was boosted by Social Security receipts. Excluding Social Security and Postal Service receipts, the government posted a budget shortfall of about $33.52 billion, down sharply from the $87.10 billion surplus seen on the same basis last year. 
The surplus for September, the final month in the fiscal year, was $35.39 billion, down from $65.75 billion in September 2000, reflecting a variety of factors.