This is NOT a slap to the President, but a reflection on how our economy is going- or has gone in the last two years. This was sen to me by ABM. Sorry about not being able to properly copy in the table In the last two years: 1/09 1/11 % change source Avg.. Retail price/gallon gas in U.S. $1.83 $3.104 69.6% 1 Crude oil, European Brent (barrel) $43.48 $99.02 127.7% 2 Crude oil, West TX Inter. (barrel) $38.74 $91.38 135.9% 2 Gold: London (per troy oz.) $853.25 $1,369.50 60.5% 2 Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL $3.56 $6.33 78.1% 2 Soybeans, No. 1 yellow, IL $9.66 $13.75 42.3% 2 Sugar, cane, raw, world, lb. Fob $13.37 $35.39 164.7% 2 Unemployment rate, non-farm, overall 7.6% 9.4% 23.7% 3 Unemployment rate, blacks 12.6% 15.8% 25.4% 3 Number of unemployed 11,616,00 14,485,000 24.7% 3 Number of fed. Employees 2,779,000 2,840,000 2.2% 3 (excl military) Real median household income $50,112 $49,777 -0.7% 4 (2008 v 2009) Number of food stamp recipients 31,983,716 43,200,878 35.1% 5 (curr = 10/10) Number of unemployment 7,526,598 9,193,838 22.2% 6 benefit recipients (curr = 12/10) Number of long-term unemployed 2,600,000 6,400,000 146.2% 3 Poverty rate, individuals 13.2% 14.3% 8.3% 4 (2008 v 2009) People in poverty in U.S. 39,800,000 43,600,000 9.5% 4 (2008 v 2009) U.S.. Rank in Economic 5 9 n/a 10 Freedom World Rankings Present Situation Index 29.9 23.5 -21.4% 11 (curr = 12/10) Failed banks 140 164 17.1 12 (curr = 2010 + 2011 to date) U.S.. Dollar versus Japanese 89.76 82.03 -8.6% 2 yen exchange rate U.S.. Money supply, M1, in billions 1,575.1 1,865.7 18.4% 13 (curr = 12/10 prelim) U.S.. Money supply, M2, in billions 8,310.9 8,852.3 6.5% 13 (curr = 12/10 prelim) National debt, in trillions $10..627 $14..052 32.2% 14 Just take this last item: In the last two years we have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our entire nation's history.. Over 27 times as fast. Metaphorically speaking, if you are driving in the right lane doing 65 MPH and a car rockets past you in the left lane. 27 times faster, it would be doing 7,555 MPH! Sources: (1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. Of Labor; (7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundation and WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC; (13) Federal Reserve; (14) U.S. Treasury
here's it in an easier to read form: After two years of Obama…Here's your change! Avg.. Retail price/gallon gas in U.S. January 2009: $1.83 Today: $3.104 % Chg: +69.6% Source: 1 Crude oil, European Brent (barrel) January 2009: $43.48 Today: $99.02 % Chg: +127.7% Source:2 Crude oil, West TX Inter. (barrel) January 2009: $38.74 Today: $91.38 % Chg: +135.9% Source: 2 Gold: London (per troy oz.) January 2009: $853.25 Today: $1,369.50 % Chg: +60.5% Source: 2 Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL January 2009: $3.56 Today: $6.33 % Chg: +78.1% Source: 2 Soybeans, No. 1 yellow, IL January 2009: $9.66 Today: $13.75 % Chg: +42.3% Source: 2 Sugar, cane, raw, world, lb. Fob January 2009: $13.37 Today: $35.39 % Chg: +164.7% Source: 2 Unemployment rate, non-farm, overall January 2009: 7.6% Today: 9.4% % Chg: +23.7% Source: 3 Unemployment rate, blacks January 2009: 12.6% Today: 15.8% % Chg: +25.4% Source: 3 Number of unemployed January 2009: 11,616,000 Today: 14,485,000 % Chg: +24.7% Source: 3 Number of fed. Employees, ex. Military (curr = 12/10 prelim) January 2009: 2,779,000 Today: 2,840,000 % Chg: 2.2% Source: 3 Real median household income (2008 v 2009) January 2009: $50,112 Today: $49,777 % Chg: -0.7% Source: 4 Number of food stamp recipients (curr = 10/10) January 2009: 31,983,716 Today: 43,200,878 % Chg: +35.1% Source: 5 Number of unemployment benefit recipients (curr = 12/10) January 2009: 7,526,598 Today: 9,193,838 % Chg: +22.2% Source: 6 Number of long-term unemployed January 2009: 2,600,000 Today: 6,400,000 % Chg: +146.2% Source: 3 Poverty rate, individuals (2008 v 2009) January 2009: 13.2% Today: 14.3% % Chg: +8.3% Source: 4 People in poverty in U.S. (2008 v 2009) January 2009: 39,800,000 Today: 43,600,000 % Chg: +9.5% Source: 4 U.S.. Rank in Economic Freedom World Rankings January 2009: 5th Today: 9th % Chg: n/a Source: 10 Present Situation Index (curr = 12/10) January 2009: 29.9 Today: 23.5 % Chg: -21.4% Source: 11 Failed banks (curr = 2010 + 2011 to date) January 2009: 140 Today: 164 % Chg: +17.1% Source: 12 U.S.. Dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate January 2009: 89.76 Today: 82.03 % Chg: -8.6% Souirce: 2 U.S.. Money supply, M1, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim) January 2009: 1,575.1 Today: 1,865.7 % Chg: +18.4% Source: 13 U.S.. Money supply, M2, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim) January 2009: 8,310.9 Today: 8,852.3 % Chg: +6.5% Source: 13 National debt, in trillions January 2009: $10.627 Today: $14.052 % Chg: +32.2% Source: 14 Sources: (1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. Of Labor; (7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundation and WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC; (13) Federal Reserve; (14) U.S. Treasury
Thanks. Of course, this isn't Obama's fault. It's to point out how the economy is fairing in many areas.
Bush's fault. All of it. Just ask Barry. Well, Bush and his "unfunded" tax cuts. I'd like to see the GOP candidate ask Barry why he calls tax cuts "unfunded". That rhetoric makes it seem like a private citizen's money isn't really their money, but rather a gift that Barry lets them keep after he taxes what "funds" the massive spending programs.
Now, to be fair, I'm sure there are several areas where things have gotten better or prices have decreased. What distresses me is that our incomes are not going up, but basic commodities are. This has gone on for some time. When will it reverse? And how will the tax increases proposed affect all this?
