| January 2009 | Today | % chg | 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 | 11,616,000 | 14,485,000 | 24.7% | 3 |
| Number of fed. employees, ex. military (curr = 12/10 prelim) | 2,779,000 | 2,840,000 | 2.2% | 3 |
| Real median household income (2008 v 2009) | $50,112 | $49,777 | -0.7% | 4 |
| Number of food stamp recipients (curr = 10/10) | 31,983,716 | 43,200,878 | 35.1% | 5 |
| Number of unemployment benefit recipients (curr = 12/10) | 7,526,598 | 9,193,838 | 22.2% | 6 |
| Number of long-term unemployed | 2,600,000 | 6,400,000 | 146.2% | 3 |
| Poverty rate, individuals (2008 v 2009) | 13.2% | 14.3% | 8.3% | 4 |
| People in poverty in U.S. (2008 v 2009) | 39,800,000 | 43,600,000 | 9.5% | 4 |
| U.S. rank in Economic Freedom World Rankings | 5 | 9 | n/a | 10 |
| Present Situation Index (curr = 12/10) | 29.9 | 23.5 | -21.4% | 11 |
| Failed banks (curr = 2010 + 2011 to date) | 140 | 164 | 17.1% | 12 |
| U.S. dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate | 89.76 | 82.03 | -8.6% | 2 |
| U.S. money supply, M1, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim) | 1,575.1 | 1,865.7 | 18.4% | 13 |
| U.S. money supply, M2, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim) | 8,310.9 | 8,852.3 | 6.5% | 13 |
| National debt, in trillions | $10.627 | $14.052 | 32.2% | 14 |
There was a short period of time I thought Dick Morris was a mole: pretending he’d changed sides after being an FOB for years.
But it looks like the conversion was complete.
What was it the late Mr. Kristol said of conservatives?
They were once liberals who had been mugged by reality.
That certainly applies to Dick Morris.
The chart is a keeper!
Thanks for linking to it, Curt.
Thanks Obama. THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER. Wake up America. It may already be too late. And people say Palin is dumb. At least she can read numbers and see bad policy. Oh yeah, I forgot, Palin LOVES AMERICA and believes in its exceptionalism – Obama DOES NOT.
Outstanding chart, Curt.
ummmm, ‘source’ as a single digit without backup (link or footnote) doesn’t look very good……
What is happening to our country?
Why is this happening?
I’m a Somalia/OIF 1 & 3 /Marine Purple heart veteran and thought I’ve seen it all.
But what is going on in this great Nation is making me sick. I don’t know what can be done now.
I remember when Bush was given the same evaluation. It was supposed to be how horrible life was because he was president.
Like this.
Funny, how that sword cuts both ways.
Since President Obama took office, the temperature has indeed declined, but it has nothing to do with his policies. But the water hasn’t receded. People still lose their houses.
Instead, when losing a midterm election, as many presidents do, he turns it around. The loss for Democrats wasn’t about their policies, but they don’t agree.
From Obama right after:
“Part of my promise to the American people when I was elected,” Obama said, “was to maintain the kind of tone that says we can disagree without being disagreeable. And I think over the course of two years there are times where I’ve slipped on the commitment.”
When has he ever been anything but disagreeable?
But the liberals are turning against him.
One and out.
@ Chris, Many others of your Brothers and Sisters in Arms that willingly went in Harms way are asking that very similar set of hard questions today. Who will answer them? History will answer them. I just see this as a “tipping point” right now.
Less than 3% of Americans are now Serving as a percentage of the US population. As the sign said at a Transfer Point in Kuwait…”The Marine Corps is at War, America is at the Mall”. There are similar sentiments expressed in email that I receive from Deployed Folks in Boots almost daily that are in Leadership Roles in Iraq, the Stans and other locales where the US has Commitments. We still have Troops in the Balkans from Commitments made as far back as the Clinton ERA to maintain Order where there was none, to Stop Genocide where it was commonplace, to keep a very fragile Peace where none existed.(Bosnia and Kosovo)
When the American Voting Public listens to Folks like You instead of Demagogues that are tall on rhetoric but weak on actions that could prevent the Republic from sliding into the abyss and dust bin of History things may get turned around.
Serving Honorably and Courageously and standing up for Principles like Fighting for the Freedom and Liberty of “Others” is not in Vogue outside of the Military. I wish I had some easy answers at hand but I quite frankly don’t. A shoebox full of Medals and 5 Bucks will get You a latte at Starbucks. We may very well be the last of the American Breed in that respect. What those “Others” that chose not to Serve say or do cannot diminish that noble spirit within You that chose to. Hold onto that!
Old Trooper2,
Wow! Thanks for the encouraging words.
Semper Fi
@ Chris
AIRBORNE, ALL THE WAY!
Chris, hi, please take note, you’r not alone, we are thinking of you and the one beside you,
and praying for your safe return, bye