From the U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov

Transcript for: Our Guide to Understanding the Financial Report of the
U.S. Government

Description: The annual Financial Report of the United States Government
contains a lot of information about the U.S. government's finances.
Check out our new guide to understanding the financial report.

Related GAO Works: GAO-18-239SP: Understanding the Financial Report of
the United States Government

Released: February 2018

[ Opening Screen ] GAO Logo

[ Man walking through library with a large book ] Did you know there's a
single document that contains nearly all of the yearly financial
information for the entire U.S. Government?

That's actually a dictionary first printed in 1934, but like a
dictionary the Financial Report for the U.S. Government has a lot of
information in it.

[ In a classroom, next to a flip chart ] Like revenue that comes in and
expenditures that go out and major cost categories like Medicare and
Medicaid...Social Security...and Defense.

[ Walking down a hallway with numbers changing along the wall ] You can
also see what it costs to run the government for a year

[ In an elevator with charts on back wall ] or to find out what we own
and what we owe.

It's a lot to sort through.

[ Woman hands man a tablet computer ] Thanks.

That's why GAO put together this helpful guide for anyone that wants to
find out more.

[ Screen: Understanding the Financial Report of the United States
Government ] It's got an explanation of each of the financial
statements, some information on how they relate to each other, and other
interesting information about our shared financial future.

[ Man walking outside ] To see this guide, or to find out more about the
government's financial report and fiscal outlook, please go to our
website at GAO.gov.