WASHINGTON — The White House says the slowdown in the economy is chiefly responsible for a big jump in next year's budget deficit.

It also predicts the economy will grow at a rate of 1.6 percent this year and rebound at a greater than 2 percent rate next year.

Bush's successor will inherit a deficit that's likely to exceed a half-trillion dollars once war costs are factored in. This year's deficit will tally $389 billion. That's way up from $162 billion last year.

The new figures are so eye-popping that the next president may face pressure to take action instead of adding to it with expensive spending programs as promised by Democrat Barack Obama or new tax cuts pledged by Republican John McCain.