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U.S. economic growth in real terms (after inflation) averaged a strong 3.3% annually during the past four years, with only a small chance of recession in 2007
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Average U.S. life expectancy has reached 78 years (men 75…women 80), the highest ever. This compares to 68 years in 1950 and 47 years in 1900
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Air pollution declined 25% over the past 30 years even as the population and the economy grew. Water quality also continues to improve. More progress will occur in coming years as companies see rising value in “going green”
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The U.S. still accounts for roughly 40% of global research and development (R&D) spending
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During the early 1960s, the five-year survival rate from cancer was one in three. Today it is two in three…and continuing to climb
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American household net worth on September 30, 2006 reached $54.1 trillion, the highest ever, and nearly three times the total of 18 years ago. Net worth—the difference between assets and liabilities—has risen for 16 consecutive quarters. Higher home and stock prices led the way
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The number of people who have quit smoking (46 million) now exceeds the number who still smoke (45 million)
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The nation’s jobless rate averaged 4.6% in 2006, the lowest in nearly six years, and lower than average jobless rates in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s
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The upward “mobility” of the typical American remains the greatest in the world. Why? The U.S. economy “rewards” the combination of hard work and educational achievement more than ever before…and more than any other country in the world
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Divorce rates…after doubling between 1960 and 1990…stabilized during the 1990s and declined in recent years
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For every dollar of U.S. economic output generated today, we burn less than half as much oil as 30 years ago
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The U.S. rate of home ownership reached 69% of households in recent quarters, the highest ever
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U.S. teen pregnancy and birth rates have plummeted to all-time lows. The reasons? More widespread use of birth control, more work opportunities, and more girls who “just say no”
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Global economic growth should exceed 4.0% in 2007 (after inflation) for the fifth consecutive year, the first such occurrence since the early 1970s. Strong growth allows millions of people to rise above poverty
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Educational achievement gaps between white students and Black & Hispanic students recently fell to the lowest levels ever, with all rising
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Despite the traditional shocks of aggressive Federal Reserve tightening and a tripling of energy prices, the Dow Jones average has set dozens of new all-time highs over the past four months
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Today’s moms and dads, whether working or at home, are spending four to six hours more per week with their kids than did the previous generation
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Solid U.S. economic growth and incentive-based tax cuts of recent years have led government revenues to surge an average of 14% during each of the past two years, with strong revenue gains also flowing in to date in FY2007. The FY2007 deficit should fall below $200 billion, a modest 1.5% of GDP
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Some 68.6% of the 2.7 million “Class of ’05” high school graduates enrolled in colleges & universities, the highest ever
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The Consumer Price Index rose only 2.5% in 2006, the smallest increase in three years. The corresponding 4.2% rise in the average hourly wage in 2006 led to one of the strongest gains in real wages in many years
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Even as the national media talks of the “jobless” recovery, the American economy added nearly seven million net additional jobs in 2004 to 2006
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Productivity of the average American worker rose an average of 3.0% annually during each of the past five years, the largest gains in 40 years. Rising productivity is a long-term key to higher standards of living
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Roughly 30% of trash was recycled or composted in the latest year, versus 16% in 1990
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In 1967, only one family in 25 earned $100,000 or more (inflation adjusted to 2005). Today, one in six families does. The share of families earning more than $75,000 annually in real dollars has tripled from 9% to 27%, while the share of families earning between $5,000 and $50,000 in real dollars has fallen by 19% since 1967
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Seat belt usage by Americans was at 81% in 2006, versus 49% in 1990 and 14% in 1983
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Women now hold nearly 15% of board of director seats at Fortune 500 companies, up from 9.6% in 1995
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The rate of auto-related injury per mile traveled in 2005 was the lowest since the Interstate Freeway System was built 50 years ago
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Corporate profits now represent more than 12% of national income, up from 7% in 2001, and the highest since recordkeeping began in 1947. Strong corporate earnings are the backbone of rising stock prices
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Violent crime overall is down 55% since 1993, with violence by teens down 71%. School violence has declined by half from a decade ago
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Donations to U.S. charities set an all-time high in 2005, with a total of $260 billion donated by individuals, foundations, and corporations. Individuals alone donated roughly $199 billion in 2005
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Children’s deaths from unintentional injury have dropped by almost 40% since 1987. Bicycle deaths fell 60%, while firearms-related deaths fell 72%
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Alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the most recently reported year dropped by more than half versus 20 years ago
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Women earned nearly 60% of all bachelor’s degrees awarded in recent years, versus 43% in 1970 and 24% in 1950. Within three years, the number of women in undergraduate and graduate programs is expected to exceed that of men by one-third
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Flexible work schedules are now the norm for 43% of workers, up from 29% in 1992 and 13% in 1985. This allows greater flexibility for more people, especially those with children
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The number of abortions performed in this country has declined by one-third since 1990 and is now at a record low
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Median (half more, half less) family income now exceeds $54,000 annually
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Overall illicit drug use among youths 12 to 17 has declined 19% since 2001
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A record 29% of men have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, versus 26% of women, also a record. This compares to a combined 7.7% in 1960. A record 84.6% of adults over age 25 now have at least a high school diploma, versus 24.5% in 1940
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The U.S. role of dominance in the global economy in recent years has been as clear-cut as at any time since the 1950s |
