Economic Indicator

 2000

 2008

 Unemployment rate

 4.0%

 6.1%

 Inflation rate

 3.3%

 5.4%

 Job Growth (preceding 8 years)

    Total nonfarm employment

 21.4%

4.3%

    Private sector employment

 23.6%

3.6%

    Manufacturing employment

 2.9%

-22.2%

 Employment rate (% of population)

    All, age 16 and older

 64.4%

62.6%

    Men, age 16 and older

 71.9%

69.1%

    Women, age 16 and older

 57.5%

56.5%

 Real wage growth (preceding 8 years)

 8.2%

1.8%

 Minimum wage (July 2008$)

 $6.58

$6.55

 Family income

    Median, 2007$

 $61,083

$61,355 

    Growth (preceding 8 years)

 14.7%

0.4%

 Poverty

    Rate (% of population)

 11.3%

12.5%

    People in poverty (millions)

 31.6

 37.3

 Uninsured (health insurance)

    Rate (% of population)

 14.0%

 15.3%

    People without insurance  (millions)

 38.7

45.7

 Personal savings (% of disposable income)

 2.3%

0.6%

 College tuition (average per year, 2007$)

    Private four-year college

 $19,337

 $23,712

    Public four-year college

 $4,221

$6,185

 Gasoline (gallon, 2008$)

 $2.03

$4.09

 GDP growth (preceding 8 years)

 34.2%

19.6%

 Productivity growth (preceding 8 years)

 15.9%

21.9% 

 Trade balance (% of GDP)

 -3.9%

 -5.1%

 Federal debt (% of GDP)

 57.3%

65.5%

 Net foreign debt (% of GDP)

 13.6%

17.9%