<prompt> Translate the following text to EnglishKwa mujibu wa ripoti hiyo, deni la umma la Marekani lilipungua hadi asilimia 1.4 ya Pato la Taifa mwaka 1996 na huenda likashuka hadi chini ya asilimia 1 mwaka huu.  <response>: U.S. public debt was down to 1.4 percent of GDP in 1996, and may drop below 1 percent this fiscal year. 