An Update by the Numbers

•    The stock market S&P 500 hit an all-time high on May 21, 2015, reaching a high of 2130.  At this writing, the close was 2095.  
•    The employment numbers are very slowly improving.  There were 2.99 million more Americans employed as of 3/31/2016 than employed as of 3/31/2015.    
•    When assessing a prospective job, approximately 3 out of every 5 Millennials (individuals born between 1981-1997) believe that an improved quality of work life is far more important than financial benefits.  
•    Condition of banks in the U.S. seem to be improving.  As of April 22, 2016, there was only one bank this year that failed and required a bailout from the FDIC.  From January 1, 2010 through April 22, 2010, there were 50 banks that failed.  After the crash of 1929, during the first 10 months of 1930, 744 banks failed.  Adding it up, 9,000 banks failed during the decade of the 1930s.  In 1933 alone, approximately 4,000 banks failed.  
•    In the calendar year 2015, 52% of US exports were sold to buyers in Canada, Mexico and the European Union.
•    In the last recession, the S&P 500 fell 35% and experienced an economic downturn that lasted from December 31, 2007 to June 30, 2009.  
•    Existing home sales in 2015 approximated 5.26 million, with 30% of these completed by first-time home buyers.
•    Of the 117.8 million households in the US, 75.2 million are homeowners and 42.6 million are renters.