But a flat equity market will quickly weigh on government's good fiscal fortunes.

However, today's fiscal good fortune will not survive over the long run.

This picture of today's fiscal good fortune, however, masks a change in the composition of federal spending during the past few decades.

Those confident assertions from the two most powerful men in the Irish government could become hostages to fiscal fortune over the next 12 months.

Mr. Bush regularly blames the terrorist attacks, war and recession for the swing in the nation's fiscal fortunes.

Most do not pay close attention to the detailed swings in New York City's fiscal fortunes.

He also had a fiscal fortune in his hands such as no Venezuelan president ever had.

The city's fiscal fortunes have turned dramatically in Mayor Bloomberg's four and a half years in office.

Since his popularity sank in tandem with Nassau's fiscal fortunes, he is not considered electable any time soon.

Mr. Bloomberg, then, would not be the first mayor to see his fiscal fortunes rise with the stock market.