Seeing Red

Want a little financial advice? Buy stock in red ink manufacturers, because Washington's going to use a record amount of it this year. Additional war spending will drive the federal deficit to a record $427 billion for fiscal 2005. That tops last year's $412 billion.

Right now, the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have increased year by year:

• 2003: $78.6 billion
• 2004: $88 billion
• 2005: $105 billion (estimated)
  

But it's only January. So Washington could need more money before October. (WashPost)