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re: Is America better off than it was 8 years ago?
TB — (archived)

Dow Jones in March of 2000, all-time record high to that time: 11,727.34. If we're talking just March 7, 2000, it was 9,796 after "fourth worst loss in history"

Dow Jones, March 7, 2008 after stock markets have been diving for weeks: 11,893.

Payroll employees in March of 2000: 131.4 million.

Payroll employees as of February of 2008: 138 million.

Unemployment rate in March 2000: 4.0 percent

Unemployment rate in Feb. 2008: 4.8 percent (there's one!)

Average hourly earnings (1982 dollars) March 2000: $8.00

Average hourly earnings (1982 dollars) January 2001 (latest figures) $8.34

National average mortgage interest rates March 2000: around 8 percent

National average mortgage interest rates March 2008: under 6 percent

I'll readily grant you the gasoline prices.

I'm better off than I was eight years ago. Honestly, how many people here aren't?

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