Unemployment Graph USA September-2011

http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000

The Poverty Level is Climbing up the Roof in the US

http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/13/news/economy/poverty_rate_income/index.htm?hpt=hp_t1

http://www.npc.umich.edu/

The Unemployment Figures through the Years in the USA

http://www.miseryindex.us/urbymonth.asp?StartYear=2001-01&EndYear=2011-07&submit1=Create+Report

Market Faillure

Market Failure is the inability of demand and supply to allocate resources in an efficient and effective way. When market failure occurs, the market mechanism has been unable to achieve its functions. In the event of market failure, when rationing resources, the market will exclude some consumers, the 'have-nots'. Similarly, when co-ordinating demand and supply, the small demands, or minority wants, are ignored. When trying to signal appropriate quantities of demand and supply and prices to charge, the market sometimes suffers from imperfect knowledge, giving out the wrong information. Finally, when trying to encourage enterprise in all industries, the market is unable to control each industry, and deficiencies such as monopolies within industries arise, hindering enterprise. In an ideal market when market failure is not present, a model of the market would look like

Federal Tax Rates 2010 and 2009

http://www.moolanomy.com/2581/2010-tax-tables-irs-federal-income-tax-rates-and-tax-brackets/
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040tt.pdf
http://www.esmarttax.com/2009-california-form-3506-instructions.asp

Unemployment Rate Chart in the United States over Three Years

Economy Remains Solid August 20-2011

Silver Linings in Economic Clouds

Most of the recent data has spelled stall speed or recession for the US economy. However, there are some silver linings in the storm clouds including:

1) Retail Sales: Home Depot, Staples and Target all provided impressive earnings beats with higher guidance this week.

2) Industrial Production: Tuesdays report handily topped expectations and shows some signs of life.

3) Lower Oil Prices = Stimulus: It is said that each $1 decrease in oil prices translates into a $10 billion boost to the US economy. So the latest drop could be good for $100 billion+.

4) Accommodative Fed: With rates near zero, it entices people to put more money to work in the economy which can aid growth.

5) Earnings Guidance Remains Solid: There has been more lowered outlooks lately then we have seen in the last couple years. But overall, guidance remains positive which means that companies are not yet seeing a slowdown in activity.

Gold versus US Indices

Social Security COLA Cost of Living Adjustment Information

Year COLA

2000 3.5
2001 2.6
2002 1.4
2003 2.1
2004 2.7
2005 4.1
2006 3.3
2007 2.3
2008 5.8

2009 nothing
2010 nothing

http://www.socialsecurityadviceonline.com/

The Stock Market Roller-Coaster

Largest Standard-Poor 500 One Day Increase Since 1950

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2011/08/11/the-stock-exchange-roller-coaster/

Largest Standard-Poor-500 One Day Decline Since 1950

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/thestump/2011/08/11/the-stock-exchange-roller-coaster/