Six years ago the inflation rate was 1.48%. Today its 3.98%.

 

Foreclosures were up by 79% in 2007.

 

Dollars per Euro 6 years ago. 1.10670

Dollars per Euro now. 0.64070

 

Price of gasoline 6 years ago: $1.353

Price of gasoline today: $3.639

 

Price of light crude oil 6 years ago: $23.78

Price of light crude oil now: $115.95

 

Other changes in past 6 years

Price of white bread up 33.4%

Electricity up 29.6%

Natural gas up 76.6%

Heating oil up 230%

Ground chuck up 29%

Eggs up 120%

Apples up 32.1%

Oranges up 26.5%

Tomatoes up 42%

Orange Juice up 36%

 

A 30% increase equates to an annual inflation rate of 4.45%.

 

Average wages went up 16.2% from 2002 to 2006, or 3.8% a year.

 

Aren't all those price increases included in the inflation rate?

 

I'm not saying that inflation rate (and unemployment) tells the whole story, only that if you're looking for a quick indication those two indications are pretty darn good. I would put GDP rate as another pretty darn good indicator

 

 

Perhaps I should define the "shooter index".

 

shooter index = unemployment rate + inflation rate - GDP rate

Aren't all those price increases included in the inflation rate?

 

I'm not saying that inflation rate (and unemployment) tells the whole story, only that if you're looking for a quick indication those two indications are pretty darn good. I would put GDP rate as another pretty darn good indicator

 

 

Perhaps I should define the "shooter index".

 

shooter index = unemployment rate + inflation rate - GDP rate

 

I think HHS' point was that there are bigger factors than just unemployment and inflation.

 

One of the biggest is the housing market. As bad as those times were what was the & of foreclosures taking place? What about the price of oil, etc? Which are essential to all parts of the market? Were wages increase keeping up with inflation increase?

My point is, regardless of how you look at it, things aren't anywhere near as bad as when Carter was president.

My point is, regardless of how you look at it, things aren't anywhere near as bad as when Carter was president.

And thats where I disagree. Our economy is walking towards the edge of a cliff while we wear rose colored glasses.

My point is, regardless of how you look at it, things aren't anywhere near as bad as when Carter was president.

 

Sometimes the measurement is not in data but in the other factors.

 

I heard someone say that in the past the US has relied on manufacturing to get us out of our recessions. The problem is that we aren't manufacturing nearly as much now in the states as we did in those times. We don't have the old factory/industrial system we once had in place to increase production with.

And thats where I disagree. Our economy is walking towards the edge of a cliff while we wear rose colored glasses.

Come on HHSDad. Have you seen gas lines like we did in the '70's? The inflation is nothing like it was back then, neither is unemployment. Remember the interest rates back then?

Also, shouldn't the chart list the year 1963 under Kennedy? He was killed in Nov 23, 1963.

He was killed November 22, 1963.

I heard someone say that in the past the US has relied on manufacturing to get us out of our recessions.

 

How?

 

The problem is that we aren't manufacturing nearly as much now in the states as we did in those times. We don't have the old factory/industrial system we once had in place to increase production with.

 

What is missing?

How?

 

 

 

What is missing?

 

 

My guess (I'm no economist) is that increased productivity of goods led to more wages, lower prices and stimulated the economy. (again just a guess)

 

What is missing is that many of those manufacturing jobs are no longer here. (Textiles, furniture are the two I'm most familiar with) Entire communities' have underemployed work forces or unemployed ones. Many are trying to retool and reinvent their work force but that takes time and right now people are losing homes, they are struggling to survive and make ends meet with jobs that are paying $10 or less an hour when they used to make $14 or more.

 

 

Again, my concern is the intangibles that many aren't looking at. The unemployment problem in this country is more regionalized than national. For example: My area is at about 10 % which is down from the 16% when I arrived 7 years ago. Meanwhile Northern VA is probably at about 3% or so. So the state average looks good but the regional reality is a killer.

 

I'm not laying the blame at anyone's feet, just pointing out that the economy is not that rosey from a lot of places.

He was killed November 22, 1963.

 

I'm off only by a day. They're off by a year!:jump:

I guess I missed something somewhere ! If oil is sold in US dollars and there is only 35 cents difference in the dollar now , how does that equate to $120 a barrel ? Are we gettin mugged or what ? It don't add up to me !!:creepy:

Come on HHSDad. Have you seen gas lines like we did in the '70's? The inflation is nothing like it was back then, neither is unemployment. Remember the interest rates back then?

 

14% home loans and 20% car loans. Not as many foreclosures simply because nobody could afford a house in the first place. Savings rates were great but nobody had money to save anyway. This economy is nothing compared to then. And yet, we made it thru, didn't we?

When it comes to spreading misery and despair, former President Carter is the undisputed American heavyweight champion. If Carter had been a dictator, he might have gotten a shot at the world title. :lol:

 

 

 

I am sure that the many hundreds of people that Mr. Carter has helped build a home over the years would disagree with you and Lady Liberty. Mr. Carter, the Nobel PEACE prize winner , has been the best ex-President in history and is a true advocate for peace ad democracy around the world. I respect the work he has done to help the many people of need here and around the world. Tremendous American!

I am sure that the many hundreds of people that Mr. Carter has helped build a home over the years would disagree with you and Lady Liberty. Mr. Carter, the Nobel PEACE prize winner , has been the best ex-President in history and is a true advocate for peace ad democracy around the world. I respect the work he has done to help the many people of need here and around the world. Tremendous American!

Oh, puke! :lol:

I am sure that the many hundreds of people that Mr. Carter has helped build a home over the years would disagree with you and Lady Liberty. Mr. Carter, the Nobel PEACE prize winner , has been the best ex-President in history and is a true advocate for peace ad democracy around the world. I respect the work he has done to help the many people of need here and around the world. Tremendous American!

:lol: Carter's Nobel PEACE Prize was nothing more than a shot taken by the socialists on the selection committee against President Bush. The misery and despair spread by Carter far outweighs the good that he has done through his commendable charity work. Carter's decision to accept the Nobel prize and check was a shameful episode in American history.

 

True advocates of peace and democracy do not legitimize despotic foreign goverments by certifying their sham elections while undermining the foreign policy of his own democratically elected government.

 

I say stop the suffering and jail Jimmy now!