A leading credit ratings agency is warning that the United States could lose its top credit rating if there's a delay in raising the country's debt ceiling.
Congress has to increase the country's debt limit, effectively how much debt the U.S. can have, by March 1 or face a potential default.
David Riley, a managing director at Fitch Ratings, says Tuesday he is worried about a looming crisis and warned that a failure to raise it in time will prompt a formal review of the country's triple A rating.
Fitch already has a negative outlook on the U.S. and said it will make a decision this year.
In August 2011, Standard & Poor's stripped the U.S. of its triple A rating after a protracted battle to raise the ceiling.
© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.