http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2012/04/05/50-amazing-numbers-about-todays-economy-.aspx
50. The S&P 500 is down 3% from 2000. But a version of the index that holds all 500 companies in equal amounts (rather than skewed by market cap) is up nearly 90%.
. . . .
46. In 2010, nearly half of Americans lived in a household that received direct government benefits. That's up from 37.7% in 1998.
(Zim : Scandalous.)
. . .
44. In November 2009, the nationwide unemployment was around 10%. But dig into demographics, and the rates are incredibly skewed. The unemployment rate for young, uneducated African-American males was 48.5%. For Caucasian females over age 45 with a college degree, it was 3.7%.
. . .
39. As the market was "flat" from 2000 to 2010, S&P 500 companies paid out more than $2 trillion in dividends. * * *
. . .
28. Just five companies, Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) , Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT ) , Cisco, Google (Nasdaq: GOOG ) , and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE ) , now hold nearly one-quarter of all corporate cash, equal to more than a quarter-trillion dollars.
. . .
(Zim: I skipped a LOT of them. Link is at the top.)
Mad Poet Strikes Again.
| 
