From the RealtyTrac website, the source of the figures in the article, we find that the average number of foreclosures in the U.S. was about 1 for every 555 households at the end of last year, or 2 tenths of a percent. They don't give exact figures for the year before, but one assumes a 100 percent increase means that at the end of 2006 the rate was about 1 in 1000 households (1 tenth of a percent).

(Note that the numbers vary widely depending on location. Some areas have rates much higher than this, some lower)

Increase in U.S. homes in foreclosure: From 1 tenth of a percent up to 2 tenths of a percent. This is indeed an increase of 100 percent, if one wanted to deliberately write a headline designed to impart an impression of doom to the gullible.

Countrywide, a major problem company, had their foreclosure rate rise to 1.44 percent in December from 0.7 percent last year. Again, this is mathematically a 100 percent increase, but still only 1 loan out of 70.