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The Big Bailout

Last week Congress approved the biggest bailout in history.

The law allows the Treasury Secretary to purchase as much as $700 billion in troubled assets in a bid to kick-start lending, ushers in one of the most far-reaching interventions in the economy since the Great Depression.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said he welcomed the news. "The legislation is a critical step toward stabilizing our financial markets and ensuring an uninterrupted flow of credit to households and businesses," he said.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said he would act swiftly but "methodically" to carry out the plan.

"The broad authorities in this legislation, when combined with existing regulatory authorities and resources, gives us the ability to protect and recapitalize our financial system as we work through the stresses in our credit markets," Paulson said.

According to voting results, 172 Democrats voted in favor of the bill while 62 opposed it; and 91 Republicans voted for it and 108 voted against it.

Donating your car Tips

According to the Wall sTreet Journal, many taxpayers are giving away used cars, boats or even planes. However, it's generally no longer as attractive for tax purposes as it once was. The reason: changes in the tax law that were made in response to concerns that many donors were deducting inflated amounts. According to a recent Internal Revenue Service report, those changes led to sharp declines in 2005, the year they took effect, in both the number of used-vehicle donors and the dollar amount of deductions.

If you donate a car or some other vehicle worth more than $500 and the charity or a middleman sells it, you typically can deduct only the selling price, even if it's far below what you think the vehicle is actually worth. Previously, donors typically could deduct the full fair-market value.

But the law also includes a few important exceptions for donors who understand the fine print and are willing to take the time to do some homework. Here is a summary of the latest IRS data, the tax-law changes, and advice from accountants and other tax advisers.

Tax Credit to Aid First-Time Homebuyers; Must Be Repaid Over 15 Years

First-time homebuyers should begin planning now to take advantage of a new tax credit included in the recently enacted Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. Available for a limited time only, the credit: Applies to home purchases after April 8, 2008, and before July 1, 2009. Reduces a taxpayer’s tax bill or increases his or her refund, dollar for dollar. Is fully refundable, meaning that the credit will be paid out to eligible taxpayers, even if they owe no tax or the credit is more than the tax that they owe. However, the credit operates much like an interest-free loan, because it must be repaid over a 15-year period. So, for example, an eligible taxpayer who buys a home today and properly claims the maximum available credit of $7,500 on his or her 2008 federal income tax return must begin repaying the credit by including one-fifteenth of this amount, or $500, as an additional tax on his or her 2010 return. Eligible taxpayers will claim the credit on new IRS Form 5405. This form, along with further instructions on claiming the first-time homebuyer credit, will be included in 2008 tax forms and instructions and be available later this year on IRS.gov, the IRS Web site. If you bought a home recently, or are considering buying one, the following questions and answers may help you determine whether you qualify for the credit. Q. Which home purchases qualify for the first-time homebuyer credit? A. Only the purchase of a main home located in the United States qualifies and only for a limited time. Vacation homes and rental property are not eligible. You must buy the home after April 8, 2008, and before July 1, 2009. For a home that you construct, the purchase date is the first date you occupy the home. Taxpayers who owned a main home at any time during the three years prior to the date of purchase are not eligible for the credit. This means that first-time homebuyers and those who have not owned a home in the three years prior to a purchase can qualify for the credit. If you make an eligible purchase in 2008, you claim the first-time homebuyer credit on your 2008 tax return. For an eligible purchase in 2009, you can choose to claim the credit on either your 2008 (or amended 2008 return) or 2009 return. Q. How much is the credit? A. The credit is 10 percent of the purchase price of the home, with a maximum available credit of $7,500 for either a single taxpayer or a married couple filing jointly. The limit is $3,750 for a married person filing a separate return. In most cases, the full credit will be available for homes costing $75,000 or more. Whatever the size of the credit a taxpayer receives, the credit must be repaid over a 15-year period. Q. Are there income limits? A. Yes. The credit is reduced or eliminated for higher-income taxpayers. The credit is phased out based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). MAGI is your adjusted gross income plus various amounts excluded from income—for example, certain foreign income. For a married couple filing a joint return, the phase-out range is $150,000 to $170,000. For other taxpayers, the phase-out range is $75,000 to $95,000. This means the full credit is available for married couples filing a joint return whose MAGI is $150,000 or less and for other taxpayers whose MAGI is $75,000 or less. Q. Who cannot take the credit? A. If any of the following describe you, you cannot take the credit, even if you buy a main home: Your income exceeds the phase-out range. This means joint filers with MAGI of $170,000 and above and other taxpayers with MAGI of $95,000 and above. You buy your home from a close relative. This includes your spouse, parent, grandparent, child or grandchild. You stop using your home as your main home. You sell your home before the end of the year. You are a nonresident alien. You are, or were, eligible to claim the District of Columbia first-time homebuyer credit for any taxable year. Your home financing comes from tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds. You owned another main home at any time during the three years prior to the date of purchase. For example, if you bought a home on July 1, 2008, you cannot take the credit for that home if you owned, or had an ownership interest in, another main home at any time from July 2, 2005, through July 1, 2008. Q. How and when is the credit repaid? A. The first-time homebuyer credit is similar to a 15-year interest-free loan. Normally, it is repaid in 15 equal annual installments beginning with the second tax year after the year the credit is claimed. The repayment amount is included as an additional tax on the taxpayer’s income tax return for that year. For example, if you properly claim a $7,500 first-time homebuyer credit on your 2008 return, you will begin paying it back on your 2010 tax return. Normally, $500 will be due each year from 2010 to 2024. You may need to adjust your withholding or make quarterly estimated tax payments to ensure you are not under-withheld. However, some exceptions apply to the repayment rule. They include: If you die, any remaining annual installments are not due. If you filed a joint return and then you die, your surviving spouse would be required to repay his or her half of the remaining repayment amount. If you stop using the home as your main home, all remaining annual installments become due on the return for the year that happens. This includes situations where the main home becomes a vacation home or is converted to business or rental property. There are special rules for involuntary conversions. Taxpayers are urged to consult a professional to determine the tax consequences of an involuntary conversion. If you sell your home, all remaining annual installments become due on the return for the year of sale. The repayment is limited to the amount of gain on the sale, if the home is sold to an unrelated taxpayer. If there is no gain or if there is a loss on the sale, the remaining annual installments may be reduced or even eliminated. Taxpayers are urged to consult a professional to determine the tax consequences of a sale. If you transfer your home to your spouse, or, as part of a divorce settlement, to your former spouse, that person is responsible for making all subsequent installment payments.

Denial Letter May Not Rule Out Disaster Assistance

If you have applied for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and receive a letter saying your initial request for help has been denied, it may mean your application was incomplete or incorrect.

One of the most common reasons for denial concerns insurance. FEMA must deny aid until an insurance settlement is reached because assistance programs are not intended to duplicate insurance compensation or cover deductibles for disaster-related loss or damage.

But if the insurance settlement does not cover all of your disaster-related losses, you should ask FEMA to review your application to see if you are eligible for some form of assistance. Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or the TTY line at 800-462-7585 for the deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired. The helpline is open from 7 a.m. to midnight daily until further notice.

Other reasons FEMA might send a denial letter could be:

• An unreturned disaster loan application from the U.S. Small Business Administration;
• No record of the damaged property as your primary residence at the time of the disaster;
• No acceptable evidence of identity, documentation of disaster damage, or proof of ownership of the damaged property; or
• A missing signature.

SBA disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. The SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

Other programs that may still provide you with some form of assistance are Disaster Unemployment Assistance, legal and tax assistance, and voluntary agency assistance.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Is this graying of the workforce expected to continue?

Definitely. BLS data show that the total labor force is projected to increase by 8.5 percent during the period 2006-2016, but when analyzed by age categories, very different trends emerge. The number of workers in the youngest group, age 16-24, is projected to decline during the period while the number of workers age 25-54 will rise only slightly. In sharp contrast, workers age 55-64 are expected to climb by 36.5 percent. But the most dramatic growth is projected for the two oldest groups. The number of workers between the ages of 65 and 74 and those aged 75 and up are predicted to soar by more than 80 percent. By 2016, workers age 65 and over are expected to account for 6.1 percent of the total labor force, up sharply from their 2006 share of 3.6 percent. (For more data see Civilian labor force by sex, age, race, and Hispanic origin.)

bls.gov

BLS- Older Worker

Are older workers choosing part-time
or full-time employment?

Since the mid-1990s there has been a dramatic shift in the part-time versus full-time status of the older workforce. The ratio of part-time to full-time employment among older workers was relatively steady from 1977 through 1990. Between 1990 and 1995, part-time work among older workers began trending upward with a corresponding decline in full-time employment. But after 1995, that trend began a marked reversal with full-time employment rising sharply. Between 1995 and 2007, the number of older workers on full-time work schedules nearly doubled while the number working part-time rose just 19 percent. As a result, full-timers now account for a majority among older workers: 56 percent in 2007, up from 44 percent in 1995.

How do wages of older workers measure up against
wages for all workers?

Earnings of workers 65 and older have long been below those of all workers. In 1979, median weekly earnings for full-time workers age 65 and older were $198 compared to $240 for all full-time employees age 16 and up. In 2007, earnings of older workers were $605 per week, still below the median of $695 for all workers. (All of these earnings amounts are in current dollars.) Over the long term, however, earnings of older workers have risen at a slightly faster pace than the total workforce. In 1979, median earnings of older full-time employees were 83 percent of those ages 16 and up; but, by 2007, that ratio had climbed to 87 percent.

bls.gov

More older people in the workplace

Older workers

Are there more older people in the workplace?

Between 1977 and 2007, employment of workers 65 and over increased 101 percent, compared to a much smaller increase of 59 percent for total employment (16 and over). The number of employed men 65 and over rose 75 percent, but employment of women 65 and older increased by nearly twice as much, climbing 147 percent. While the number of employed people age 75 and over is relatively small (0.8 percent of the employed in 2007), this group had the most dramatic gain, increasing 172 percent between 1977 and 2007.

Between 1977 and 2007, the age 65 and older civilian noninstitutional population — which excludes people in nursing homes — increased by about 60 percent, somewhat faster than the civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over (46 percent). Yet employment of people 65 and over doubled while employment for everyone 16 and over increased by less than 60 percent. How can employment increase more than the population? A larger share of people 65 and older is staying in or returning to the labor force (which consists of those working or looking for work). The labor force participation rate for older workers has been rising since the late 1990s. This is especially notable because the 65-and-over labor force participation rate had been at historic lows during the 1980s and early 1990s.


bls.gov

The Fundamentals of Options

In Store Microsoft Gurus

Microsoft just launched a new $300 million marketing campaign and image makeover. This in an attempt to at minimum, keep up with Apple and the competition.


Now Microsoft Corp. says that they plan to deploy its own customer-service representatives at retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City to help people with their PC purchases. These 155 "Microsoft Gurus" will be in U.S. stores by the end of the year, and expand based on the project's success, Microsoft's general manager of corporate com.

These gurus will be answering questions about PCs and Microsoft products, as well as giving demos of how the company's products work together — help designed to get them thinking Microsoft.

The move is more likely to strike up comparisons with Apple which has portrayed Microsoft as unhip and out of touch.

Apple Inc., which runs "Genius Bars" in its stores to answer questions about Macs and iPods. The Genius Bar also offers technical support on already-purchased products, which the Microsoft reps will not do.

Microsoft had tested about 25 of the service employees in the U.S. and Europe since October 2007.

Its Gurus join a barrage of efforts behind Microsoft's latest and largest-ever marketing campaign, including commercials that began airing Thursday night featuring Chairman Bill Gates and new pitchman Jerry Seinfeld.

Researching Penny Stocks

US Health Insurance Coverage

Overview

• The number of uninsured children declined from 8.7 million (11.7 percent) in 2006 to 8.1 million (11.0 percent) in 2007.

Race and Hispanic Origin (Race data refer to those reporting a single race only. Hispanics can be of any race.)

• Both the number and percentage of uninsured for non-Hispanic whites decreased in 2007, to 10.4 percent and 20.5 million, respectively. For blacks, the number of uninsured remained statistically unchanged from 2006, at 7.4 million, while the percentage declined from 20.5 percent in 2006 to 19.5 percent in 2007. The uninsured rate for Asians rose from 15.5 percent in 2006 to 16.8 percent in 2007.
• The number and percentage of uninsured Hispanics decreased from 15.3 million and 34.1 percent in 2006 to 14.8 million and 32.1 percent in 2007.
• Based on a three-year average (2005-2007), 32.1 percent of people who reported American Indian and Alaska Native as their race were without coverage. The three-year average uninsured rate for Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders was 20.5 percent.

Nativity

• Between 2006 and 2007, the uninsured rate for the native-born population declined from 13.2 percent in 2006 to 12.7 percent in 2007. Meanwhile, the percentage of the foreign-born population without insurance was statistically unchanged at 33.2 percent in 2007. Among the foreign-born population, the uninsured rate for naturalized U.S. citizens increased from16.4 percent in 2006 to 17.6 percent in 2007, while the uninsured rate for U.S. noncitizens was statistically unchanged from 2006, at 43.8 percent in 2007.

Regions

• At 11.4 percent each, the Northeast and the Midwest had lower uninsured rates in 2007 than the West (16.9 percent) and the South (18.4 percent). The rates declined from 2006 in every region except for the Midwest, where the change was not statistically significant.

States

• Rates for 2005-2007 using a three-year average show that Texas (24.4 percent) had the highest percentage of uninsured. No one state had the “lowest” uninsured rate. At 8.3 percent, Massachusetts and Hawaii had the lowest point estimates for uninsured rates, but they were not statistically different from Minnesota (8.5 percent), Wisconsin (8.8 percent) and Iowa (9.4 percent). In addition, Hawaii was not statistically different from Maine (9.5 percent).
• Comparing a pair of two-year average uninsured rates (2004-2005 versus 2006-2007), five states and the District of Columbia saw a decline, while 10 states experienced an increase.

Household Income Rises, Poverty Rate Unchanged,

Real median household income in the United States climbed 1.3 percent between 2006 and 2007, reaching $50,233, according to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the third annual increase in real median household income. Meanwhile, the nation’s official poverty rate in 2007 was 12.5 percent, not statistically different from 2006. There were 37.3 million people in poverty in 2007, up from 36.5 million in 2006.

Current Population Survey
(Primarily the source of national-level statistics)

The 2008 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) reveals the following results for the nation:

Income

Race and Hispanic Origin (Race data refer to people reporting a single race only. Hispanics can be of any race.)

• Real median income (adjusted for inflation) for black and non-Hispanic white households rose between 2006 and 2007, representing the first measured real increase in annual household income for each group since 1999.
• Real median household income remained statistically unchanged for Asians and Hispanics.
• Among the race groups and Hispanics, black households had the lowest median income in 2007 ($33,916). This compares to the median of $54,920 for non-Hispanic white households. Asian households had the highest median income ($66,103). The median income for Hispanic households was $38,679.

Regions

• Between 2006 and 2007, real median household income rose in the Midwest ($50,277) and the South ($46,186), declined in the Northeast ($52,274) and remained statistically unchanged in the West ($54,138).

Nativity

• Real median income rose for native-born households for the second year, up 1.0 percent from 2006, to $50,946. For foreign-born households whose householder was not a U.S. citizen, income dropped by 7.3 percent to $37,637. For households maintained by a naturalized U.S. citizen, median income remained statistically unchanged at $52,092.

Earnings

• In 2007, the ratio of earnings of women who worked full time, year-round was 78 percent of that for corresponding men. The real median earnings of men who worked full time, year-round climbed between 2006 and 2007, from $43,460 to $45,113. For women, the corresponding increase was from $33,437 to $35,102. These increases in earnings follow three years of annual decline in real earnings for both men and women.

Income Inequality

• Income inequality decreased between 2006 and 2007, as measured by shares of aggregate household income by quintiles and the Gini index. The share of aggregate income received by households in the top fifth of the income distribution declined, while the shares for the third and fourth quintiles increased. Meanwhile, the Gini index declined from 0.470 to 0.463, moving closer to 0, which represents perfect income equality (1 represents perfect inequality).

Poverty

Overview

• In 2007, the family poverty rate and the number of families in poverty were 9.8 percent and 7.6 million, respectively, both statistically unchanged from 2006. Furthermore, the poverty rate and the number in poverty showed no statistical change between 2006 and 2007 for the different types of families. Married-couple families had a poverty rate of 4.9 percent (2.8 million), compared with 28.3 percent (4.1 million) for female-householder, no-husband-present families and 13.6 percent (696,000) for those with a male householder and no wife present.

Thresholds

• As defined by the Office of Management and Budget and updated for inflation using the Consumer Price Index, the weighted average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2007 was $21,203; for a family of three, $16,530; for a family of two, $13,540; and for unrelated individuals, $10,590.

Race and Hispanic Origin (Race data refer to people reporting a single race only. Hispanics can be of any race.)

• For Hispanics, 21.5 percent were in poverty in 2007, up from 20.6 percent in 2006. Poverty rates remained statistically unchanged for non-Hispanic whites (8.2 percent), blacks (24.5 percent) and Asians (10.2 percent) in 2007.

Age

• For people 65 and older and those 18 to 64, the poverty rate remained statistically unchanged at 9.7 percent and 10.9 percent, respectively. For children younger than 18, the poverty rate increased from 17.4 percent in 2006 to 18.0 percent in 2007.
• The number of people in poverty increased for seniors 65 and older — from 3.4 million in 2006 to 3.6 million in 2007. For children younger than 18, the number in poverty climbed as well, from 12.8 million in 2006 to 13.3 million in 2007. For those 18 to 64, however, the number in poverty remained statistically unchanged, at 20.4 million in 2007.

Nativity

• Among the native-born population, 11.9 percent, or 31.1 million, were in poverty in 2007. Both the poverty rate and number in poverty were statistically unchanged from 2006.
• Among the foreign-born population, the poverty rate and the number in poverty increased to 16.5 percent and 6.2 million, respectively, in 2007, from 15.2 percent and 5.7 million, respectively, in 2006. An increase in poverty for U.S. noncitizens (from 19.0 percent in 2006 to 21.3 percent in 2007) accounted for the rise in poverty for the foreign-born population overall.

Regions

• The number in poverty in the South increased to 15.5 million in 2007, up from 14.9 million in 2006, while the poverty rate remained statistically unchanged at 14.2 percent in 2007. In 2007, the poverty rates for the Northeast (11.4 percent), the Midwest (11.1 percent) and the West (12.0 percent) were all statistically unchanged from 2006. The poverty rate for the Northeast was not statistically different from that of the Midwest or West.

census.gov

Car Rental Tips from III

According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), many car rental companies now impose various fees after an accident that you may not be aware of and will be held responsible for. These fees can include: towing, storage, impound fees, loss of use, diminished value and administrative services.

Before renting a car, the I.I.I. suggests that you make two phone calls—one to your insurance agent or company representative and another to the credit card company you will be using to pay for the rental car.

1. Insurance Company
   Find out how much coverage you currently have on your own car. In most cases, whatever coverage and deductibles you have on your own car would apply when you rent a car, providing you are using the car for recreation and not for business.
   
   If you have dropped either comprehensive or collision on your own car as a way to reduce costs, you will not be covered if your rental car is stolen or damaged in an accident.
   
   Check to see whether your insurance company pays for administrative fees, loss of use or towing charges. Some companies may provide an insurance rider to cover some of these costs, which would make it less expensive than purchasing coverage through the rental car company. Keep in mind, however, that in most states diminished value is not covered by insurers.
   
   
2. Credit Card Company
   Insurance benefits offered by credit card companies differ by both the company and/or the bank that issues the card, as well as by the level of credit card used. For instance, a platinum card may offer more insurance coverage than a gold card.
   
   Credit cards usually cover only damage to or loss of the rented vehicle, not for other cars, personal belongings or the property of others. There may be no personal liability coverage for bodily injury or death claims. Some credit card companies will provide coverage for towing, but many may not provide for diminished value or administrative fees. Some credit card companies have changed their policies, too, so you may not have as much coverage as you thought.
   
   To know exactly what type of insurance you have, call the toll-free number on the back of the card you will be using to rent the car. If you are depending on a credit card for insurance protection, ask the credit card company or bank to send you their coverage information in writing. In most cases, credit card benefits are secondary to either your personal insurance protection or the insurance offered by the rental car company.
   
   If you have more than one credit card, consider calling each one to see which offers the best insurance protection.

At the Rental Car Counter



Since insurance is state regulated, the cost and coverage will vary from state to state. Consumers, however, can generally choose from the following coverages:

• Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)
  Also referred to as a collision damage waiver outside the U.S., an LDW is not technically an insurance product. LDWs do, however, relieve or “waive” renters of financial responsibility if their rental car is damaged or stolen. In most cases, waivers also provide coverage for “loss of use,” in the event the rental car company charges the renter for the time a damaged car can not be used because it is being fixed. It may also cover towing and administrative fees.
  
  Waivers, however, may become void if the accident was caused by speeding, driving on unpaved roads or driving while intoxicated. If you already have comprehensive and collision coverage on your own car, check with your personal auto insurer to make sure you are not duplicating coverage you already have. Should you decide it is necessary, this coverage generally costs between $9 and $19 a day.
  
  
• Liability Insurance
  By law, rental companies must provide the state required amount of liability insurance. Generally, these amounts are low and do not provide much protection. If you have adequate amounts of liability protection on your own car, you may consider forgoing additional liability protection. If you want the supplemental insurance, it will cost between $7 and $14 a day.
  
  An umbrella liability policy, however, may be more cost-effective. Umbrella liability insurance is so named because it acts like an umbrella, sitting on top of your auto and homeowners (or renters) liability policies to provide extra protection including accidents while driving your own car or one that you rent. These policies, usually sold in increments of a million dollars, cost as little as $200 to $300 annually for a million dollars worth of coverage and another $50 to $100 for each additional million.
  
  Those who do not own their own car and are frequent car renters, can also consider purchasing a non-owner liability policy. This not only provides liability protection when you rent a car, but also when you borrow someone else’s car.
  
  
• Personal Accident Insurance
  Personal Accident Insurance offers coverage to you and your passengers for medical and ambulance bills for injuries caused in a car crash. If you have adequate health insurance or are covered by personal injury protection under your own car insurance, you may not need this additional insurance. It usually costs about $1 to $5 a day.
  
  
• Personal Effects Coverage
  Personal Effects Coverage provides insurance protection for the theft of items in your car. If you have a homeowners or renters insurance policy that includes off-premises theft coverage, you are generally covered for theft of your belongings away from home, minus the deductible. If you purchase this coverage through the rental car company, it generally costs between $1 and $4 a day.
  
  If you frequently travel with expensive items such as jewelry, cameras, musical equipment or sports equipment, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a personal articles floater under your homeowners or renters insurance policy. With such a floater, your valuable items are protected at home as well as while traveling anywhere in the world and the coverage is broader.

Other Things to Consider

States have minimum age requirements for renting a car and most major rental car companies refuse to rent a car to someone who is under 21 and in some cases under 25. In addition, some rental car companies now investigate your driving record and/or credit history so check with the rental car company before picking up the car.

If you are planning to rent a car abroad, contact both your insurance agent and travel agent to find out what you need to do to be properly insured. Those driving a rental car from the U.S. into Mexico may find it progressively more difficult to rent a car as U.S. rental car companies are increasingly concerned about the rising crime rates in that country. The minimum required insurance coverage to drive in Mexico is civil liability insurance which covers you in case you cause injury or damage. Your American liability insurance is not valid in Mexico for bodily injury, though some American insurance policies will cover you for physical damage—check with your agent or insurance company representative. You can also buy Mexican car insurance in several American border towns; there are generally several storefronts selling Mexican car insurance near the border.

For more information about insurance, go to the I.I.I. Web site.

For a related video, see Video: Rental Car Insurance.

The Reupublican Convention

St. Paul, Minn.

277,251
Population of St. Paul, Minn.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/SUB-EST2007.html>

84.5%
The percentage of eligible voters (citizens 18 and older) in Minnesota who were registered in the last presidential election.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2004
<http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/voting.html>

87.4%
Percentage of St. Paul residents age 25 and older who are high school graduates or higher.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

37.9%
Percentage of St. Paul residents age 25 and older who have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

13.8%
Percentage of the population who are foreign-born.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

8.1%
Percentage of the population who are veterans.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

6.3%
Percentage of Ramsey County, which encompasses St. Paul, who are Hispanic or Latino.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates; population estimates by age, race and Hispanic origin are not available at the city level.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

72.9%
Percentage of Ramsey County who are white and not Hispanic.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

9.6%
Percentage of Ramsey County residents who are black or African-American.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

8.7%
Percentage of Ramsey County residents who are Asian.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

0.9%
Percentage of Ramsey County residents who are American Indian or Alaska Native.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

0.1%
Percentage of Ramsey County residents who are Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

37.1 years
Median age of Ramsey County residents.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

24.3%
Percentage of the Ramsey County population under 18 years old.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

12.7%
Percentage of the Ramsey County population 65 years and older.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

22.9%
Percentage of the St. Paul population 5 and older who speak a language other than English at home.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

29.5%
Percentage of St. Paul families that are married-couple families with their own children under 18 years.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

32.6%
Percentage of females 20 years and older who have never married.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

35.3%
Percentage of males 20 years and older who have never married.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

21.2 minutes
Mean travel time to work for St. Paul residents.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

$43,654
Median household income in St. Paul.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

20.9%
Percentage of individuals in St. Paul who are living in poverty.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

49,894
Number of employees in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector, which employs the largest number of people in Ramsey County.
Source: 2006 County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cbpnaic/cbpnaic.shtml>

$1.9 billion
Annual payroll for the Health Care and Social Assistance sector in Ramsey County.
Source: 2006 County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cbpnaic/cbpnaic.shtml>

1,708
The number of Health Care and Social Assistance establishments in Ramsey County.
Source: 2006 County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cbpnaic/cbpnaic.shtml>

Special Editions of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Facts for Features are issued to provide background information for lesser-known observances, anniversaries of historic events and other timely topics in the news

Furnishing Creative Ideas

The Democratic Convention

Special Edition
2008 Presidential Nominating Conventions

Political parties in the United States hold nominating conventions every four years to formally select who will be their presidential candidate. This year, the Democratic National Convention will begin Aug. 25 in Denver. The Republican National Convention will begin on Sept. 1 in St. Paul, Minn. The U.S. Census Bureau provides social, economic, demographic and business data for the two host cities, or their surrounding counties.

Denver

588,349
Population of Denver, Colo.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/SUB-EST2007.html>

74.2%
The percentage of eligible voters (18 and older who were citizens) in Colorado who were registered in the last presidential election.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2004 <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/voting.html>

82%
Percentage of Denver residents age 25 and older who are high school graduates or higher.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

36.3%
Percentage of Denver residents age 25 and older who have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

17.1%
Percentage of the population who are foreign-born.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

8.7%
Percentage of the population who are veterans.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

34.4%
Percentage of Denver residents who are Hispanic or Latino.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

50.7%
Percentage of Denver residents who are white and not Hispanic.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

10.1%
Percentage of Denver residents who are black or African-American.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

3.4%
Percentage of Denver residents who are Asian.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

1.3%
Percentage of Denver residents who are American Indian or Alaska Native.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

0.2%
Percentage of Denver residents who are Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

35.3 years
Median age of Denver residents.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

24.4%
Percentage of the population under 18 years old.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

10.4%
Percentage of the population 65 years and older.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

29.5%
Percentage of the Denver population 5 and older who speak a language other than English at home.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

33.0%
Percentage of Denver families that are married-couple families with their own children under 18 years.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

25.7%
Percentage of females 20 years and older who have never married.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

32.8%
Percentage of males 20 years and older who have never married.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

23.8 minutes
Mean travel time to work for Denver residents.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

$40,900
Median household income in Denver.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

20.0%
Percentage of individuals in Denver who are living in poverty.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

54,339
Number of employees in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector, which employs the largest number of people in Denver County.
Source: 2006 County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cbpnaic/cbpnaic.shtml>

$2.35 billion
Annual payroll for the Health Care and Social Assistance sector in Denver County.
Source: 2006 County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cbpnaic/cbpnaic.shtml>

2,025
The number of Health Care and Social Assistance establishments in Denver County.
Source: 2006 County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cbpnaic/cbpnaic.shtml>

Internet and mobile use grows

Microsoft Releases August Security Bulletin

Microsoft has released updates to address vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows, Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Windows Mail, and Windows Messenger as part of the Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for August 2008. These vulnerabilities may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or obtain sensitive information.

US-CERT encourages users to review the bulletins and follow best-practice security policies to determine which updates should be applie

Bulletin Title	Vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Image Color Management System Could Allow Remote Code Execution (952954)
Executive Summary	This update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in the Microsoft Image Color Management (ICM) system that could allow remote code execution in the context of the current user. If a user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
Maximum Severity Rating	Critical
Impact of Vulnerability	Remote Code Execution
Detection	Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer can detect whether your computer system requires this update. The update requires a restart.
Affected Software	Microsoft Windows. For more information, see the Affected Software and Download Locations section.

Bulletin Identifier	Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-045
Bulletin Title	Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (953838)
Executive Summary	This security update resolves five privately reported vulnerabilities and one publicly disclosed vulnerability. All of the vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted Web page using Internet Explorer. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
Maximum Severity Rating	Critical
Impact of Vulnerability	Remote Code Execution
Detection	Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer can detect whether your computer system requires this update. The update requires a restart.
Affected Software	Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer. For more information, see the Affected Software and Download Locations section.

Bulletin Identifier	Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-041
Bulletin Title	Vulnerability in the ActiveX Control for the Snapshot Viewer for Microsoft Access Could Allow Remote Code Execution (955617)
Executive Summary	This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in the ActiveX control for the Snapshot Viewer for Microsoft Access. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by constructing a specially crafted Web page. When a user views the Web page, the vulnerability could allow remote code execution. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the logged-on user.
Maximum Severity Rating	Critical
Impact of Vulnerability	Remote Code Execution
Detection	Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer can detect whether your computer system requires this update. The update does not require a restart.
Affected Software	Microsoft Office. For more information, see the Affected Software and Download Locations section.

Bulletin Identifier	Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-043
Bulletin Title	Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Excel Could Allow Remote Code Execution (954066)
Executive Summary	This security update resolves four privately reported vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office Excel that could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Excel file. An attacker who successfully exploited these vulnerabilities could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
Maximum Severity Rating	Critical
Impact of Vulnerability	Remote Code Execution
Detection	Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer can detect whether your computer system requires this update. The update does not require a restart.
Affected Software	Microsoft Office. For more information, see the Affected Software and Download Locations section.

Bulletin Identifier	Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-051
Bulletin Title	Vulnerabilities in Microsoft PowerPoint Could Allow Remote Code Execution (949785)
Executive Summary	This security update resolves three privately reported vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office PowerPoint and Microsoft Office PowerPoint Viewer that could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted PowerPoint file. An attacker who successfully exploited any of these vulnerabilities could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
Maximum Severity Rating	Critical
Impact of Vulnerability	Remote Code Execution
Detection	Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer can detect whether your computer system requires this update. The update does not require a restart.
Affected Software	Microsoft Office. For more information, see the Affected Software and Download Locations section.

Bulletin Identifier	Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-044
Bulletin Title	Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office Filters Could Allow Remote Code Execution (924090)
Executive Summary	This security update resolves five privately reported vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user viewed a specially crafted image file using Microsoft Office. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.
Maximum Severity Rating	Critical
Impact of Vulnerability	Remote Code Execution
Detection	Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer can detect whether your computer system requires this update. The update does not require a restart.
Affected Software	Microsoft Office. For more information, see the Affected Software and Download Locations section.

for more information, visit Microsoft

Appealing Your Flood Insurance Claim - FEMA Explains How

Step 1
If policy holders have questions regarding their coverage, filing procedures or damage estimates, they should first contact their adjuster, who should be most knowledgeable about their claim.

Step 2
Policy holders who aren't satisfied with the adjuster's answers should contact the adjuster's supervisor. The adjuster should provide this contact information.

Step 3
If the adjuster's supervisor can't resolve the issue, policy holders should contact the insurance company's claim representative. The insurance agent or another company representative should provide assistance.

Step 4
After following the first three steps, policy holders who still have a problem should contact FEMA in writing at this address:

FEMA-Mitigation Division-Room 433
Risk Insurance Branch
Attn: Director of Claims
500 C Street, S.W.
Washington D.C. 20472

This letter should be written by the policy holder or a legal representative, such as a family member handling a claim for an elderly relative. The legal representative should describe his or her relationship to the policy holder. A legal representative may be asked to provide written authorization from the policy holder or other legal documents verifying the relationship.

The letter should include these six items:

1. The policy number, as shown on the NFIP policy's declarations page.
2. The policy holder's name, as shown on the declarations page.
3. The property address, as shown on the declarations page. This is NOT the person's mailing address if it is different from the property address.
4. How the policy holder can be contacted.
5. Specific details of the policy holder's concern.
6. The dates and details of discussions about the claim with insurance company representatives.

The appeal letter to FEMA also should include documentation (copies, not original documents) of everything that supports the appeal. Include such things as a detailed list of damaged property and the value of individual items; supporting photographs; and a contractor's detailed estimate of repair costs. Comparing contractor and adjuster estimates in detail may help FEMA resolve differences.

For more information, visit FEMA

College Student Financial Tips- BBB

According to a 2007 survey by Charles Schwab, fewer than half of teens considered themselves knowledgeable on how to budget money (41 percent), how to pay bills (34 percent), or how credit card interest and fees work (26 percent).

BBB recommends that before parents wave goodbye to their college bound students, they sit down and discuss four key rules for managing personal finances:

Be responsible with credit cards.
According to a U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) survey, two out of three college students report having a credit card, of which about two-thirds are responsible for paying their monthly bill. Overall, freshmen responsible for their own cards had average credit card balances of $1301.

While having a credit card is an important first step for a college student to start building a credit history, parents need to stress the importance of using credit responsibly. This includes having a minimal number of credit cards, paying off the balances every month and keeping a reign on spending.

For more information on managing credit cards visit BBB online.

Start saving money now, even if it’s just a small amount every month.
Developing good saving habits early on will help a college student reap the benefits throughout his or her life. Aside from the inherent benefits of saving money, starting early means taking advantage of what Albert Einstein described as one of the most powerful forces in the universe: compound interest.

For example, if a freshman saves $50 every month and puts it into a high interest savings account or money market account that earns five percent interest, by graduation, they’ll have saved more than $2660 including dividends. If they continue to save $50 every month at five percent interest, in 25 years, they’ll have saved nearly $15,000 and reaped another $15,000 in dividends.

For more information on creating a budget visit the BBB Web site.

Pay your bills on time.
U.S. PIRG found that more that 40 percent of college students who managed their own credit cards had paid bills late or paid at least one over-the-limit fee. Credit card companies often charge late fees as high as $40. Add to that any accruing interest, which can be upwards of 30 percent, and college students will quickly see how much can be lost by not paying a bill on time and in full.

Aside from the immediate benefits of paying bills on time – specifically, reducing needless spending on fees and interest charges – it is an important way for college students to begin building a healthy credit report.

For more information on managing credit and bills see BBB tips online.

Guard your personal information.
When comparing the age demographics of ID theft victims in the U.S., young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 were the second highest age group at risk for fraud according to an annual survey by Javelin Strategy and Research. Javelin also found that, in cases where the victims knew how their ID was stolen, 79 percent of the time it was stolen by someone they had contact with; therefore, preventing ID theft is important both online and offline. Parents should encourage their students to shred unnecessary documents that include personal information such as social security or bank account numbers and keep a close watch over credit and debit cards and checkbooks.

For more information on preventing ID theft online and for general ID theft prevention measures, visit the BBB Web site.

Collectables gather more value

Solve An Identity Crisis

Help EPA a recycle unwanted cell phones! Here's how:

A problem with getting a new cell phone is what to do with the old one. Many of us have a stock pile of cell phones that we don't know what to do with. It may be a good idea to hold on to your most recent phone as you can use it as a back-up as long as it can take the card from your current phone.

Recycling your old cell phone, PDA, cell phone batteries, chargers, or other accessories, recovers valuable materials and reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Help EPA a recycle unwanted cell phones! Here's how:

Drop It Off

Drop off your old cell phone, PDA, cell phone batteries, chargers, or other accessories at one of the retailers or service providers below. Visit the links for detailed drop-off and collection event information.

AT&T Best Buy Office Depot	Sony Ericsson Sprint Staples	T-Mobile LG Electronics Verizon Wireless
Note: EPA does not endorse the commercial services or products of its Plug-In To eCycling partners. All the previous links exit the EPA site .

Mail It In

Mail in your old cell phone, PDA, cell phone batteries, chargers, or other accessories at one of the retailers or service providers below. Visit the links for detailed drop-off and collection event information.

Nokia Sprint Samsung T-Mobile	Motorola LG Electronics Verizon Wireless Palm
Note: EPA does not endorse the commercial services or products of its Plug-In To eCycling partners. All the previous links exit the EPA site

Learn More

• Before you drop off or mail in your old cell phone, make sure that you have terminated your service contract for the phone and erased any data in the phone.
• To ensure that personal information is cleared from the phone, you can: manually delete all information and remove the SIM card; contact your service provider or phone manufacturer for instructions; or use a data erasing tool such as ReCellular's Cell Phone Data Eraser
• Go to the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association's recycling program Wireless...The New Recyclable^TM for additional tips to consider when recycling your cell phone
  
• Listen to EPA's podcast on recycling your cell phone to learn what happens to your cell phone once it's recycled and hear answers to common questions.
• Learn the basics of the campaign in our campaign overview.
• Have a question about recycling your cell phone? Visit our eCycling frequent questions page.
• Visit EPA's electronics recycling Web site to learn about the environmental benefits of recycling, how to recycle other electronics, and what EPA is doing to help.

Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC)

The EPA

Top Colleges for Making Money

According to a recent study compiled by PayScale.com , the top schools for future earnings ,according to earnings of alumni at colleges around the country;

No. 1: Dartmouth College
Median Salary 0 to 5 years $58,000
10 to 20 years $134,000
Top Earners*$321,000

Crossing the Dartmouth Green (photo by Joseph Mehling '69)

Dartmouth College is a private, four-year liberal arts institution that has been at the forefront of American higher education since 1769. A member of the Ivy League, Dartmouth is a superb undergraduate residential college with the intellectual character of a university, featuring thriving research and first-rate graduate and professional programs. This unique combination creates a highly personal learning environment for our exceptional students and faculty.

No. 2: Princeton University

Princeton's campus is located on 500 acres in central New Jersey. The University recently created an Office of Sustainability to continue focusing on areas where it has been a leader, such as energy conservation, and to coordinate other environmental efforts.

Median Salary 0 to 5 years $66,500

10 to 20 years $131,000

Top Earners* $261,000

*Ten percent of grads with 10 to 20 years experience earn more than this amount.


No. 3: Stanford University

Photo: L.A. Cicero

Palm Drive, the mile-long, palm tree-lined entrance to campus, connects Stanford with the neighboring town of Palo Alto. Bike and walking paths and an arboretum border Palm Drive, and the street culminates at the Oval, a lawn at the front of campus where students often study or play volleyball and Frisbee. The view west down Palm Drive -- with palm trees framing Memorial Church and the foothills beyond -- is a classic Stanford shot.

Median Salary 0 to 5 years $70,400

10 to 20 years $129,000

Top Earners*$257,000

*Ten percent of grads with 10 to 20 years experience earn more than this amount.



No. 4: Yale University
Yale’s roots can be traced back to the 1640s, when colonial clergymen led an effort to establish a college in New Haven to preserve the tradition of European liberal education in the New World. This vision was fulfilled in 1701, when the charter was granted for a school “wherein Youth may be instructed in the Arts and Sciences [and] through the blessing of Almighty God may be fitted for Publick employment both in Church and Civil State.” In 1718 the school was renamed “Yale College” in gratitude to the Welsh merchant Elihu Yale, who had donated the proceeds from the sale of nine bales of goods together with 417 books and a portrait of King George I.

Median Salary 0 to 5 years $59,100

10 to 20 years $126,000

Top Earners* $326,000

*Ten percent of grads with 10 to 20 years experience earn more than this amount.




No. 4: Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
The mission of MIT is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

MIT is located on 168 acres that extend more than a mile along the Cambridge side of the Charles River Basin .

Median Salary 0 to 5 years $72,200

10 to 20 years $126,000

Top Earners*$326,000

*Ten percent of grads with 10 to 20 years experience earn more than this amount.


No. 6: Harvard University

Median Salary 0 to 5 years $63,400

10 to 20 years $124,000

Top Earners* $288,000

*Ten percent of grads with 10 to 20 years experience earn more than this amount.


No. 7: University Of Pennsylvania

Median Salary 0 to 5 years $60,900

10 to 20 years $120,000

Top Earners* $282,000

*Ten percent of grads with 10 to 20 years experience earn more than this amount.


No. 8: University Of Notre Dame


Median Salary 0 to 5 years $56,300

10 to 20 years $116,000

Top Earners* $235,000

*Ten percent of grads with 10 to 20 years experience earn more than this amount


No. 9: Polytechnic University Of New York, Brooklyn

Median Salary 0 to 5 years $62,400

10 to 20 years $114,000

Top Earners* $190,000

*Ten percent of grads with 10 to 20 years experience earn more than this amount.


No. 9: Worcester Polytechnic Institute


Median Salary 0 to 5 years $61,000

10 to 20 years $114,000

Top Earners* $180,000

*Ten percent of grads with 10 to 20 years experience earn more than this amount.



No. 11: University Of Chicago


Median Salary 0 to 5 years $53,400

10 to 20 years $113,000

Top Earners* $255,000

*Ten percent of grads with 10 to 20 years experience earn more than this amount.

Source: PayScale.com

Single Americans

“National Singles Week” was started by the Buckeye Singles Council in Ohio in the 1980s to celebrate single life and recognize singles and their contributions to society. The week is now widely observed during the third full week of September (Sept. 21-27 in 2008) as “Unmarried and Single Americans Week,” an acknowledgment that many unmarried Americans do not identify with the word “single” because they are parents, have partners or are widowed. In this edition of Facts for Features, unmarried people include those who were never married, widowed, or divorced, unless otherwise noted.

Single Life

92 million
Number of unmarried Americans 18 and older in 2006. This group comprised 42 percent of all U.S. residents 18 and older.

54%
Percentage of unmarried Americans 18 and older who are women.

60%
Percentage of unmarried Americans 18 and older who have never been married. Another 25 percent are divorced, and 15 percent are widowed.

15 million
Number of unmarried Americans 65 and older. These older Americans comprise 16 percent of all unmarried and single people 18 and older.

86
Number of unmarried men 18 and older for every 100 unmarried women in the United States.

50.7 million
Number of households maintained by unmarried men or women. These households comprise 44 percent of households nationwide.

30.5 million
Number of people who live alone. They comprise 27 percent of all households, up from 17 percent in 1970.

Source for statements in this section: America’s Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

Parenting

12.9 million
Number of single parents living with their children in 2006. Of these, 10.4 million were single mothers.
Source: America’s Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

9%
Percentage of households headed by single parents in 2006, up from 5 percent in 1970.
Source: America’s Families and Living Arrangements
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

39%
Percentage of opposite-sex, unmarried-partner households that include children. Source: America’s Families and Living Arrangements <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/families_households/009842.html>

733,000
Number of unmarried grandparents who were caregivers for their grandchildren in 2006. They comprised about three in 10 grandparents who were responsible for their grandchildren.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

Unmarried Couples

6 million
Number of unmarried-partner households in 2006. These include 5.2 million of the opposite sex and 780,000 of the same sex.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

Dating

904
The number of dating service establishments nationwide as of 2002. These establishments, which include Internet dating services, employed nearly 4,300 people and generated $489 million in revenues.
Source: 2002 Economic Census <http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/guide/SUBSUMM.HTM>

Voters

36%
Percentage of voters in the 2004 presidential election who were unmarried.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2004 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/004986.html>

Education

83%
Percentage of unmarried people 25 and older in 2007 who were high school graduates.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2007 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/011196.html>

24%
Percentage of unmarried people 25 and older in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree or more education.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States