Washington | The House of Representatives passed a deal to suspend the US debt ceiling on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) just days before the country runs out of money, after a coalition of Democrats and Republicans overcame fierce opposition from hardline conservatives.

The House voted 314-117 in favour of the deal to lift the $US31.4 trillion ($48 trillion) debt ceiling, following marathon negotiations between the White House and Republicans to head off a default that threatened to cripple the US economy and unsettle world financial markets.