The federal government ran a budgetary surplus of $7.5 billion over the first 11 months of its fiscal year - putting Ottawa's books well ahead of its 2015-16 deficit prediction with one month to go.

The federal government posted a $400-million surplus for September compared with a $3.8-billion deficit in the same month last year.

The federal government appears to be turning a corner in its fight against the deficit, posting a second consecutive monthly surplus in January.