You know I love maps — economic maps, in particular. The last few ones I’ve featured here illustrated the U.S. unemployment rates and California’s unemployment rate history. I’ve also covered business cycles and historical financial charts in the past, so I thought it would be a good time to revisit the bigger picture on our economy in terms of the job situation, foreclosure rates and unemployment figures. Plus, let’s check out how all these numbers fit against what the government has done for our economy over the last few years via the effects of the stimulus bill. Has the massive stimulus package had any impact on our economy?
It’s easy to see how things are going, care of CNN.com’s Economy Tracker. Following are some of the visual guides or maps I’ve seen, illustrating the health of our economy from January 2007 all the way to the present. The maps are interactive (just the way I like it), so by using the sliders that are available in these trackers, you’ll see just how things have evolved over the last two years. Here are a few of the charts that track the economy, showing data as of February 2010 (click on the images below to expand them):
Unemployment Rates
The redder it is, the higher the unemployment rate.
Jobs By Industry
Blue represents increase or job growth. Red indicates a decline.
Foreclosure Rates
Darker red indicates higher foreclosure rates.
How Recovery Act Funds Were Awarded
Darker red signifies that more funds were awarded to the state.
Check out how the economic numbers have changed over time. Do you see any indication here that we can expect any sort of improvement in our economic health in the near term? We can only hope.
As an aside, let me gripe about something I’m seeing here. As a Californian, I’ve noticed that a lot of the stimulus money was sent our way, but it seems like things haven’t really changed much. We’re still seeing bad unemployment numbers — among the worst in the nation. Is it no surprise that we’re in this financial quagmire when stuff like runaway vacation pay in the public sector is seen as part of our financial landscape? This is nuts; I can only wonder when our state will start getting its act together. Sucks to be a Silicon Valley mom with school-aged kids right about now…
Personal Financial Articles
Check out these great financial stopovers around the web:
- Wise Bread: How to Deal with Recession Anxiety
- BillShrink: Five Investments To Avoid For The Long Term
- Lazy Man and Money: How to Waste $55 in Washington D.C. (Hint: Take a Bus Tour)
- Frugal Dad: Stick With Stocks Or Pay Off The Mortgage?
- Million Dollar Journey: Transitioning Well from One Job to Another
- Monevator: Cash and Your Portfolio
- Studenomics: Should I Open a Bank Account Online?
- Online Investing AI Blog: More Savings Stats to Scare the Bejeezers Out of You
- Cash Money Life: Best of Money Carnival
- Canadian Finance Blog: I was pleased to be an Editor’s Pick at Festival Of Frugality #221 with my post about the cheapest people in our lives.
- Being Frugal: Carnival of Personal Finance
- Mighty Bargain Hunter: Carnival of Debt Reduction
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Not much to add to the conversation, but thanks so much for the link!
The economic picture cannot change to a major degree until all facets of the process are in alignment. Lobbying, excessive pay, vacations, misdirected government funding, etc. are but a small part of the bleak picture. It just seems that while the government is enacting a movement to save $1.00, they allow $5.00 to slip through the cracks. Perhaps we need some real life business people in government…
A good deal of the stimulus money spent so far went to prop up state governments, and close their budgetary gaps. I’ve seen a few projects in my area, most make work type of stuff, marginal economic value, no permanent jobs.
Loving the visuals despite their bleak outlook. I really did not see the stimulus money actually inspiring growth. It is doing what I thought it would. Prop up an already tired and exploited system. Like giving a heart transplant to a 90 year old man with a bad liver and 1 lung:)
From what I have witnessed, the stimulus money has been put to use in the wrong places!
Banks have the money, but they just aren’t lending, they’re too fearful of the period they’ve just been through. That will change and once the first big banks starts putting money back into the system, the others will follow.
Private capital seems to be the best way to borrow money for commercial loans or super jumbo loans that are over $2 million.
Jack Goldenberg
I think everyone is a little bit jittery. As the economic plans and policies get put into place and unemployment and other factors will improve. I am sad to say that may take awhile and we as people want things now instead of later. After all, impulse buying is very popular in the U.S. I’m willing to give our leaders a little more time but they are on a short leash.
The stock market is recovering but not the real estate market. Foreclosures continue to be scary and plentiful. Consumer loans are also continuing to rise. The good news is there are lots of homes that can be bought cheap.
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