
The Fed bought 61 per cent of the net new debt the US government issued last year. Before the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve used to buy small amounts, but not the lion’s share of the US government’s debt. This is quantitative easing like we have never seen before. This is more money than it cost to fight World War II, the first Gulf War, put a man on the moon and the entire African aid budget for the past 30 years – all put together.