$MASKS

According to the US Treasury report, the country's national debt rose from $34.6 trillion on June 3 to $35.3 trillion on September 3, an increase of $684 billion.  This significant increase occurred only one month after the US national debt crossed the 35 trillion dollar mark.  Fitch, the American credit rating giant, continues to warn about debt and budget deficit growth.  Affirming the long-term AA+ rating for the US, the agency has announced that it is not ready to upgrade the rating to AAA due to the country's underlying financial conditions.  Fitch noted that although the dollar remains the world's reserve currency, a continued increase in the public debt burden could increase vulnerability to economic shocks and increase confidence.  Last year, Fitch downgraded America's long-term rating from the gold standard AAA to AA+.