An American company that specialises in economic landforms is suggesting that the fiscal cliff is around 42 metres (or about 138 feet) tall.

“We have used sophisticated techniques to calculate the height of the US fiscal cliff, and are confident of the 138 feet measurement,” said George Newman of Financial Escarpment Metrics.

“Standing on or near the edge of such a cliff is certainly inadvisable, and we would not recommend looking down.”

President Obama recently signed the American Taxpayer Sigh of Relief Act which is believed to have diverted the US away from the cliff and more towards a safer fiscal archipelago.

When asked whether the fiscal cliff poses a future problem to the US, Mr Newman responded with a stern and concise “reply hazy, try again”.