In the second quarter of the year, Alphabet made $1.023 billion in net interest income alone, income made just by having a large pile of money in interest-bearing accounts. This is more than the actual profits of 397 companies in the S&P 500. –Sherwood News, July 25, 2024
Workers at companies with 401(k) plans that automatically enroll their employees participated at a rate of 94% in 2023, compared to 67% at places where sign-up is voluntary. – USA Today, Aug 1, 2024
When the Carter Center began leading the international campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease in 1986, there were an estimated 3.5 million cases in at least 21 countries in Africa and Asia. During the first three months of 2024, not a single case was detected worldwide. If this continues, we could soon achieve the global eradication of the third disease in history. – The Carter Center, April 28, 2024
Domestic oil and gas producers set another new record in oil production during the week ending August 4, 2024. U.S. producers pumped out an amazing 13.4 million barrels a day, the highest level of oil ever produced by any nation on earth. – Forbes, August 11, 2024
In the early 1950s, the national average for the cost of gasoline remained steady at $0.27 per gallon, while the average household income at the time was $3,300 per year. Gasoline in 1950, adjusted for inflation, equates to about $3.52 a gallon in today’s dollars. Income in 1950, adjusted for inflation, would be the equivalent of about $42,892. However, the median household income today is $74,580. –Historyfacts.comand savings.org
Over the last 30 years, the purchasing power of the U.S. consumer dollar has been cut in half due to inflation. At the same time, the S&P 500 has gained 960% (8% per year) after adjusting for inflation. –The Week in Charts, August 6, 2024
As of August 2024, the 30-year annualized return (USD) of the MSCI China Index is 0%, compared to the over 10% annualized return of the S&P 500 during that timeframe. –MSCI China Index (USD), July 31,2024
August 14 marked the 89th anniversary of FDR signing the Social Security Act into law. This year, the trust fund will pay out $1.5 trillion in benefits to more than 71 million Americans, which is roughly 21% of the entire US population. –Social Security Administration, August 16, 2024
In 2020, about 1 in 6 people in the United States were age 65 and over. In 1920, this proportion was less than 1 in 20. –United States Census Bureau, May 25, 2023
China’s share of the U.S. market for imported manufactured goods has fallen from 26% in 2018 to 15% today.–Empirical Research Partners
Since wagering on your phone was legalized in most states in the past six years, a household’s net investment drops by $2 for every dollar put toward a sports bet. – Morning Brew, August 18, 2024
China lost a record $15 billion of foreign investment in the last quarter of this year. If the decline continues through 2024, it will be the country’s first annual net outflow of cash since at least 1990. – Bloomberg, August 11, 2024
