U.S. Credit Rating Lowered

U.S. credit rating outlook lowered by S&P

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Standard & Poor's lowered its outlook for the nation's long-term debt Monday, saying the political grousing over the deficit could put more pressure on the still shaky economic recovery.

"The outlook reflects our view of the increased risk that the political negotiations over when and how to address both the medium- and long-term fiscal challenges will persist until at least after national elections in 2012," said S&P credit analyst Nikola Swann.

S&P maintained its top-tier 'AAA/A-1+' credit rating on U.S. sovereign debt, saying the nation's "highly diversified" economy and "effective monetary policies" have helped support growth. But the ratings agency lowered its outlook for America's long-term credit rating to "negative" from "stable."

The outlook means that there is a one-in-three likelihood that it could lower the long-term rating on the United States within two years, S&P said.
http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/18/news/economy/us_credit_rating_outlook_lowered/index.htm