Government deficits are the biggest long-term worry of top U.S. economists, according to a survey released today.

The survey of 47 top economists by the National Association of Business Economics predicted that the federal deficit will jump to $1.4 trillion in the fiscal year ending in September. In the November survey, the economists had forecast a $1.1 trillion deficit, CNNMoney.com reported.

The economists’ forecast is a bit more optimistic than the latest projection of a $1.5 trillion deficit from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The previous survey was taken before Congress agreed to extend Bush-era tax rates for all income brackets and have a one-year holiday on a portion of the payroll tax. The payroll tax holiday added about $112 billion to the federal deficit, CNNMoney.com said.

Asked to rank the seriousness of various economic problems, with one meaning no concern and five equaling extreme concern, the federal deficit was the biggest worry, with an average score of 4.1, CNNMoney.com said.

State and local government budget deficits and debt were the second biggest worry, with a score of 3.4.

The economists are more optimistic about growth than they were three months ago. They expect economic growth of 3.3 percent in 2011, up significantly from the 2.6 percent growth rate forecast in November.