Existing home sales, 9/19/2012

http://mam.econoday.com/byshoweventfull.asp?fid=451557&cust=mam&year=2012&lid=0

Tax plans: Obama vs. Romney

http://money.cnn.com/2012/09/07/news/economy/tax-obama-romney/

County Compensation by Industry, Southeast Region , 2009-2010

http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/comp/2011/glance_SE_1211.htm

Who does not pay federal income taxes

Fact checking Romney's comment: http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/18/politics/campaign-wrap/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Who does not pay federal income tax: http://money.cnn.com/2012/09/18/pf/taxes/romney-income-tax/
http://economywatch.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/18/13939069-the-47-percent-heres-who-pays-no-federal-income-tax?lite

Breakdown of Mitt Romney's 47%: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ROMNEYS_47_PERCENT?SITE=CTNHR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Map of 47%: http://thelastword.msnbc.com/_news/2012/09/19/13946457-map-shows-where-the-47-percent-live

• Direct link with data: http://taxfoundation.org:81/article/states-vary-widely-number-tax-filers-no-income-tax-liability

Obama's college tuition plans

http://money.cnn.com/2012/09/17/pf/college/college-costs-obama/

* steady increase in student tuition over 10 years, almost 50%
* public institutions - budget crisis due to lower taxes, such as property taxes as house values decreased
* proposed - transfer more community college credits (cheaper) to university credits (more expensive)

A brief history of U.S. unemployment

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/business/us-unemployment-rate-history/

 

 

A brief history of U.S. unemployment

The United States has experienced 11 recessions since the end of the postwar period in 1948. The federal government has tried various methods over the years to turn around recessions and push back unemployment, including stimulus spending and tax cuts.
David B. Sicilia, associate professor of history at the University of Maryland, is an expert on American business and economic history. Here he looks back at the unemployment rate since the federal government began tracking unemployment more than 60 years ago and what the government did, if anything, to ease it.

Post-World War II

Stagflation

Reagan/Bush

Clinton

21st Century

Roll over each dot on the charts to see that year's average unemployment
and click on the era-labels to see an in-depth view of that time period.

Post-World War II

Stagflation

Reagan/Bush

Clinton

21st Century

State unemployment for July 2012 and report for August 2012

http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/mstrtcr1.gif
-----------------------------

Unemployment Rates for States

Unemployment Rates for States Monthly Rankings Seasonally Adjusted July 2012p
Rank	State	Rate
1	NORTH DAKOTA	3.0
2	NEBRASKA	4.0
3	SOUTH DAKOTA	4.4
4	OKLAHOMA	4.9
5	VERMONT	5.0
6	IOWA	5.3
7	NEW HAMPSHIRE	5.4
8	WYOMING	5.6
9	MINNESOTA	5.8
10	VIRGINIA	5.9
11	UTAH	6.0
12	MASSACHUSETTS	6.1
13	KANSAS	6.3
14	HAWAII	6.4
14	MONTANA	6.4
16	NEW MEXICO	6.6
17	DELAWARE	6.8
18	MARYLAND	7.0
19	MISSOURI	7.2
19	OHIO	7.2
19	TEXAS	7.2
22	ARKANSAS	7.3
22	WISCONSIN	7.3
24	WEST VIRGINIA	7.4
25	IDAHO	7.5
26	LOUISIANA	7.6
26	MAINE	7.6
28	ALASKA	7.7
29	PENNSYLVANIA	7.9
30	INDIANA	8.2
31	ALABAMA	8.3
31	ARIZONA	8.3
31	COLORADO	8.3
31	KENTUCKY	8.3
35	TENNESSEE	8.4
36	CONNECTICUT	8.5
36	WASHINGTON	8.5
38	OREGON	8.7
39	FLORIDA	8.8
40	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	8.9
40	ILLINOIS	8.9
42	MICHIGAN	9.0
43	MISSISSIPPI	9.1
43	NEW YORK	9.1
45	GEORGIA	9.3
46	NORTH CAROLINA	9.6
46	SOUTH CAROLINA	9.6
48	NEW JERSEY	9.8
49	CALIFORNIA	10.7
50	RHODE ISLAND	10.8
51	NEVADA	12.0

^p = preliminary.
NOTE: Rates shown are a percentage of the labor force. Data refer to place of residence. Estimates for the current month are subject to revision the following month.

Last Modified Date: August 17, 2012

Source: http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm


==========================

Current Unemployment Rates for States and Historical Highs/Lows

Current Unemployment Rates for States and Historical Highs/Lows Seasonally Adjusted
	July 2012p	Historical High		Historical Low
State	Rate	Date	Rate	Date	Rate
Alabama	8.3	Dec. 1982	14.3	Apr. 2007	3.2
Alaska	7.7	June 1986	11.5	Apr. 2007	5.9
Arizona	8.3	Jan. 1983	11.6	July 2007	3.5
Arkansas	7.3	July 1983	10.1	Nov. 2000	4.0
California	10.7	Oct. 2010	12.4	Jan. 2001	4.7
Colorado	8.3	Nov. 2010	9.0	Jan. 2001	2.6
Connecticut	8.5	Dec. 2010	9.4	Oct. 2000	2.1
Delaware	6.8	Dec. 1976	9.3	Feb. 1989	2.8
District of Columbia	8.9	Feb. 1983	11.6	May 1989	4.8
Florida	8.8	Feb. 2010	11.4	Aug. 2006	3.3
Georgia	9.3	Jan. 2010	10.5	Dec. 2000	3.3
Hawaii	6.4	Jan. 1976	9.9	Dec. 2006	2.3
Idaho	7.5	Feb. 1983	9.6	Mar. 2007	2.7
Illinois	8.9	Feb. 1983	12.9	Feb. 1999	4.2
Indiana	8.2	Jan. 1983	12.7	Apr. 1999	2.6
Iowa	5.3	Mar. 1983	8.6	Oct. 1999	2.5
Kansas	6.3	Aug. 2009	7.6	Apr. 1979	3.0
Kentucky	8.3	Jan. 1983	12.0	June 2000	4.1
Louisiana	7.6	Nov. 1986	12.8	July 2006	3.6
Maine	7.6	Jan. 1977	9.0	Jan. 2001	3.1
Maryland	7.0	Nov. 1982	8.4	Feb. 2008	3.3
Massachusetts	6.1	Jan. 1976	11.1	Oct. 2000	2.6
Michigan	9.0	Dec. 1982	16.8	Mar. 2000	3.3
Minnesota	5.8	Dec. 1982	9.1	Mar. 1999	2.5
Mississippi	9.1	Apr. 1983	13.5	Apr. 2001	4.9
Missouri	7.2	Feb. 1983	10.6	Jan. 2000	2.8
Montana	6.4	Mar. 1983	8.8	Dec. 2006	3.1
Nebraska	4.0	Feb. 1983	6.7	Feb. 1998	2.2
Nevada	12.0	Oct. 2010	14.0	Apr. 2000	3.8
New Hampshire	5.4	Sept. 1992	7.6	May 1987	2.1
New Jersey	9.8	Dec. 1976	10.7	July 2000	3.6
New Mexico	6.6	Mar. 1983	10.0	June 2007	3.4
New York	9.1	Nov. 1976	10.3	Apr. 1988	4.0
North Carolina	9.6	Feb. 2010	11.4	Mar. 1999	3.1
North Dakota	3.0	Feb. 1983	6.8	July 2001	2.6
Ohio	7.2	Jan. 1983	13.9	Jan. 2001	3.8
Oklahoma	4.9	June 1983	9.2	Dec. 2000	2.8
Oregon	8.7	Jan. 1983	12.1	Feb. 1995	4.7
Pennsylvania	7.9	Mar. 1983	12.9	Mar. 2000	4.0
Rhode Island	10.8	Jan. 2010	11.9	July 1988	2.9
South Carolina	9.6	Dec. 2009	12.0	Mar. 1998	3.2
South Dakota	4.4	Feb. 1983	6.0	Mar. 2000	2.5
Tennessee	8.4	Jan. 1983	12.8	May 2000	3.9
Texas	7.2	Nov. 1986	9.3	Jan. 2001	4.2
Utah	6.0	Mar. 1983	10.0	Mar. 2007	2.4
Vermont	5.0	Jan. 1976	8.8	Apr. 2000	2.4
Virginia	5.9	Jan. 1983	7.8	Dec. 2000	2.2
Washington	8.5	Nov. 1982	12.2	May 2007	4.4
West Virginia	7.4	Mar. 1983	18.1	Apr. 2008	3.9
Wisconsin	7.3	Jan. 1983	11.5	Feb. 2000	3.0
Wyoming	5.6	Jan. 1987	9.1	Apr. 1979	2.3

^p = preliminary.
NOTE: Rates shown are a percentage of the labor force. Data refer to place of residence. Series begin in January 1976. Historical highs and lows show the most recent month that a rate was recorded in the event of multiple occurrences. Estimates for at least the latest five years are subject to revision early in the following calendar year.

 Source: http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/lauhsthl.htm

======================

August jobs report: http://bloomberg.econoday.com/byshoweventfull.asp?fid=451283&cust=bloomberg-us&year=2012&lid=0#top

2012 Economic Calendar
POWERED BY
Resource Center »  Event Released Dates   |   Event Definitions   |   Today's Calendar
Employment Situation Released On 9/7/2012 8:30:00 AM For Aug, 2012 Prior Prior Revised Consensus Consensus Range Actual Nonfarm Payrolls - M/M change 163,000  141,000  125,000  70,000  to 177,000  96,000  Unemployment Rate - Level 8.3 % 8.3 % 8.2 % to 8.4 % 8.1 % Average Hourly Earnings - M/M change 0.1 % 0.1 % 0.2 % 0.1 % to 0.3 % 0.0 % Av Workweek - All Employees 34.5 hrs 34.4 hrs 34.5 hrs 34.5 hrs to 34.5 hrs 34.4 hrs Private Payrolls - M/M change 172,000  162,000  134,000  80,000  to 177,000  103,000  Highlights The odds of some kind of Fed easing at the September FOMC just went up as the employment situation for August was not pretty. Payroll jobs were anemic even though the unemployment rate dipped. The unemployment rate slipped to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent in July due to a sharp drop in the labor force. Payroll jobs in August advanced a mere 96,000, following gains of 141,000 in July (originally 163,000) and 45,000 in June (previous estimate of 64,000). The net revisions for June and July were down 41,000. Analysts projected a 125,000 gain for August. Private payrolls increased 103,000 in August after gaining 162,000 the prior month. The consensus called for a 134,000 boost. Turning to wage inflation, average hourly earnings were flat after a 0.1 percent rise in July. Expectations were for a 0.2 percent rise. The average workweek was unchanged at 34.4 hours. Expectations were for 34.5 hours. Today's report is very disappointing. Equities dipped on the news but generally remained positive on favorable news from Europe. More detail coming. Please check back. Market Consensus before announcement Nonfarm payroll employment in July increased 163,000, following gains of 64,000 in June and 87,000 in May. Private payrolls rose 172,000 in July after advancing 73,000 the month before. Analysts forecast a 110,000 boost. Both goods-producing and service-providing sectors improved moderately. The public sector contracted again but at a more modest pace than months ago. Government jobs fell 9,000 in July, the same as in June. Average hourly earnings growth slowed to 0.1 percent in July from 0.3 percent the prior month. The average workweek held steady at 34.5 hours, matching expectations. The unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent from 8.2 percent in June. Definition The employment situation is a set of labor market indicators based on two separate surveys in this one report. Based on the Household Survey, the unemployment rate measures the number of unemployed as a percentage of the labor force. Other key series come from the Establishment Survey (of business establishments). Nonfarm payroll employment counts the number of paid employees working part-time or full-time in the nation's business and government establishments. The average workweek reflects the number of hours worked in the nonfarm sector. Average hourly earnings reveal the basic hourly rate for major industries as indicated in nonfarm payrolls.  Why Investors Care During the mature phase of an economic expansion, monthly payrolls gains of 150,000 or so are considered relatively healthy. In the early stages of recovery though, gains are expected to surpass 250,000 per month. Data Source: Haver Analytics The civilian unemployment rate is a lagging indicator of economic activity. During a recession, many people leave the labor force entirely, so the jobless rate may not increase as much as expected. This means that the jobless rate may continue to increase in the early stages of recovery because more people are returning to the labor force as they believe they will be able to find work. The civilian unemployment rate tends towards greater stability than payroll employment on a monthly basis. It reveals the degree to which labor resources are utilized in the economy. Data Source: Haver Analytics Please note: Your browser must display iFrames to view the Interactive charts. * Data in graph are as released and do not reflect subsequent revisions. 2012 Release Schedule Released On: 1/6 2/3 3/9 4/6 5/4 6/1 7/6 8/3 9/7 10/5 11/2 12/7 Release For: Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Legal Notices | ©Copyright 1998-2012 Econoday, Inc.  powered by

  


* participation rate down


==================


From BLS website: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Economic News Release

Employment Situation Summary

Transmission of material in this release is embargoed                      USDL-12-1796
until 8:30 a.m. (EDT) Friday, September 7, 2012

Technical information:
 Household data:       (202) 691-6378  *  cpsinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/cps
 Establishment data:   (202) 691-6555  *  cesinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/ces

Media contact:         (202) 691-5902  *  PressOffice@bls.gov


                         THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- AUGUST 2012


Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 96,000 in August, and the unemployment
rate edged down to 8.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
Employment increased in food services and drinking places, in professional and
technical services, and in health care.

Household Survey Data

The unemployment rate edged down in August to 8.1 percent. Since the beginning of
this year, the rate has held in a narrow range of 8.1 to 8.3 percent. The number of
unemployed persons, at 12.5 million, was little changed in August. (See table A-1.)

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (7.6 percent),
adult women (7.3 percent), teenagers (24.6 percent), whites (7.2 percent), blacks
(14.1 percent), and Hispanics (10.2 percent) showed little or no change in August.
The jobless rate for Asians was 5.9 percent (not seasonally adjusted), little
changed from a year earlier. (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)

In August, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more)
was little changed at 5.0 million. These individuals accounted for 40.0 percent of
the unemployed. (See table A-12.)

Both the civilian labor force (154.6 million) and the labor force participation rate
(63.5 percent) declined in August. The employment-population ratio, at 58.3 percent,
was little changed. (See table A-1.)

The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to
as involuntary part-time workers) was little changed at 8.0 million in August. These
individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because
they were unable to find a full-time job. (See table A-8.)

In August, 2.6 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force,
essentially unchanged from a year earlier. (These data are not seasonally adjusted.)
These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work,
and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as
unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.
(See table A-16.)

Among the marginally attached, there were 844,000 discouraged workers in August, a
decline of 133,000 from a year earlier. (These data are not seasonally adjusted.)
Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe
no jobs are available for them. The remaining 1.7 million persons marginally attached
to the labor force in August had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the
survey for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities. (See
table A-16.)

Establishment Survey Data

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 96,000 in August. Since the beginning of
this year, employment growth has averaged 139,000 per month, compared with an average 
monthly gain of 153,000 in 2011. In August, employment rose in food services and
drinking places, in professional and technical services, and in health care. (See
table B-1.)

Employment in food services and drinking places increased by 28,000 in August and by
298,000 over the past 12 months.

Employment in professional and technical services rose in August (+27,000). Job gains
occurred in computer systems design and related services (+11,000) and management and
technical consulting services (+9,000).

Health care employment rose by 17,000 in August. Ambulatory health care services and
hospitals added 14,000 and 6,000 jobs, respectively. From June through August, job 
growth in health care averaged 15,000 per month, compared with an average monthly
gain of 28,000 in the prior 12 months.

Utilities employment increased in August (+9,000). The increase reflects the return
of utility workers who were off payrolls in July due to a labor-management dispute.

Within financial activities, finance and insurance added 11,000 jobs in August.
Employment in wholesale trade continued to trend up. Employment in temporary help
services changed little over the month and has shown little movement, on net, since
February.

Manufacturing employment edged down in August (-15,000). A decline in motor vehicles
and parts (-8,000) partially offset a gain in July. Auto manufacturers laid off fewer
workers for factory retooling than usual in July, and fewer workers than usual were
recalled in August.

Employment in other major industries, including mining and logging, construction,
retail trade, transportation and warehousing, information, and government, showed
little change over the month.

The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at
34.4 hours in August. The manufacturing workweek declined by 0.2 hour to 40.5 hours,
and factory overtime was unchanged at 3.2 hours. The average workweek for production
and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 33.7 hours.
(See tables B-2 and B-7.)

In August, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged
down by 1 cent to $23.52. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings rose by
1.7 percent. In August, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and
nonsupervisory employees edged down by 1 cent to $19.75. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for June was revised from +64,000 to
+45,000, and the change for July was revised from +163,000 to +141,000.

______________
The Employment Situation for September is scheduled to be released on Friday,
October 5, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).


     _______________________________________________________________________________
    |                                                                               |
    |                  2012 CES Preliminary Benchmark Revision to be                |
    |                            Released on September 27, 2012                     |
    |                                                                               |
    |Each year, the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey estimates are bench- |
    |marked to comprehensive counts of employment from the Quarterly Census of      |
    |Employment and Wages (QCEW) for the month of March. These counts are derived   |
    |from state unemployment insurance (UI) tax records that nearly all employers   |
    |are required to file. On September 27, 2012, at 8:30 a.m., the Bureau of Labor |
    |Statistics (BLS) will release the preliminary estimate of the upcoming annual  |
    |benchmark revision to the establishment survey employment series. This is the  |
    |same day the First Quarter 2012 data from the QCEW will be issued. Preliminary |
    |benchmark revisions for all major industry sectors, as well as total nonfarm   |
    |and total private levels, will be available on the BLS website at              |
    |www.bls.gov/ces/cesprelbmk.htm.                                                |
    |                                                                               |
    |The final benchmark revision will be issued with the publication of the        |
    |January 2013 Employment Situation news release.                                |
    |                                                                               |
    |_______________________________________________________________________________|

• Employment Situation Summary Table A. Household data, seasonally adjusted
• Employment Situation Summary Table B. Establishment data, seasonally adjusted
• Employment Situation Frequently Asked Questions
• Employment Situation Technical Note
• Table A-1. Employment status of the civilian population by sex and age
• Table A-2. Employment status of the civilian population by race, sex, and age
• Table A-3. Employment status of the Hispanic or Latino population by sex and age
• Table A-4. Employment status of the civilian population 25 years and over by educational attainment
• Table A-5. Employment status of the civilian population 18 years and over by veteran status, period of service, and sex, not seasonally adjusted
• Table A-6. Employment status of the civilian population by sex, age, and disability status, not seasonally adjusted
• Table A-7. Employment status of the civilian population by nativity and sex, not seasonally adjusted
• Table A-8. Employed persons by class of worker and part-time status
• Table A-9. Selected employment indicators
• Table A-10. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted
• Table A-11. Unemployed persons by reason for unemployment
• Table A-12. Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment
• Table A-13. Employed and unemployed persons by occupation, not seasonally adjusted
• Table A-14. Unemployed persons by industry and class of worker, not seasonally adjusted
• Table A-15. Alternative measures of labor underutilization
• Table A-16. Persons not in the labor force and multiple jobholders by sex, not seasonally adjusted
• Table B-1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry sector and selected industry detail
• Table B-2. Average weekly hours and overtime of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls by industry sector, seasonally adjusted
• Table B-3. Average hourly and weekly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls by industry sector, seasonally adjusted
• Table B-4. Indexes of aggregate weekly hours and payrolls for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls by industry sector, seasonally adjusted
• Table B-5. Employment of women on nonfarm payrolls by industry sector, seasonally adjusted
• Table B-6. Employment of production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls by industry sector, seasonally adjusted(1)
• Table B-7. Average weekly hours and overtime of production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls by industry sector, seasonally adjusted(1)
• Table B-8. Average hourly and weekly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls by industry sector, seasonally adjusted(1)
• Table B-9. Indexes of aggregate weekly hours and payrolls for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls by industry sector, seasonally adjusted(1)


• Access to historical data for the "A" tables of the Employment Situation Release
• Access to historical data for the "B" tables of the Employment Situation Release
• HTML version of the entire news release

The PDF version of the news release

Table of Contents

Last Modified Date: September 07, 2012

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | Division of Labor Force Statistics, PSB Suite 4675, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20212-0001U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | Division of Current Employment Statistics, PSB Suite 4860, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20212-0001
www.bls.gov/CPS | Telephone: 1-202-691-6378 | Contact CPSwww.bls.gov/CES | Telephone: 1-202-691-6555 | Contact CES


================

Table and chart for custom time period: http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000


=================

Labor Force participation rate:

Data extracted on: September 7, 2012 (9:01:22 AM)

Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey

Series Id:           LNS11300000
Seasonally Adjusted
Series title:        (Seas) Labor Force Participation Rate
Labor force status:  Civilian labor force participation rate
Type of data:        Percent or rate
Age:                 16 years and over

Download:

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
2002	66.5	66.8	66.6	66.7	66.7	66.6	66.5	66.6	66.7	66.6	66.4	66.3
2003	66.4	66.4	66.3	66.4	66.4	66.5	66.2	66.1	66.1	66.1	66.1	65.9
2004	66.1	66.0	66.0	65.9	66.0	66.1	66.1	66.0	65.8	65.9	66.0	65.9
2005	65.8	65.9	65.9	66.1	66.1	66.1	66.1	66.2	66.1	66.1	66.0	66.0
2006	66.0	66.1	66.2	66.1	66.1	66.2	66.1	66.2	66.1	66.2	66.3	66.4
2007	66.4	66.3	66.2	65.9	66.0	66.0	66.0	65.8	66.0	65.8	66.0	66.0
2008	66.2	66.0	66.1	65.9	66.1	66.1	66.1	66.1	65.9	66.0	65.8	65.8
2009	65.7	65.8	65.6	65.6	65.7	65.7	65.5	65.4	65.1	65.0	65.0	64.6
2010	64.8	64.9	64.9	65.1	64.9	64.6	64.6	64.7	64.6	64.4	64.5	64.3
2011	64.2	64.2	64.2	64.2	64.2	64.1	64.0	64.1	64.1	64.1	64.0	64.0
2012	63.7	63.9	63.8	63.6	63.8	63.8	63.7	63.5

Gas prices and Hurricane Isaac impact

http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/money_latest/~3/65_3c8Mb6RE/index.html

Trend of gas prices from www.gasbuddy.com

Obama's Economy: A snapshot

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/news/economy/1206/gallery.Obama-economy

GDP growth during Q4-2007 and Q4-2010: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_01/027740.php

Historical GDP numbers until 2009: http://raymondpronk.wordpress.com/2010/09/21/national-bureau-of-economic-research-nber-declares-the-longest-post-world-war-ii-recession-over-in-june-2009-over-25-million-americans-still-looking-for-full-time-job-in-september-2010/

Contribution to GDP: http://www.elblogsalmon.com/entorno/ocde-publica-su-informe-economico-de-la-zona-euro