Consumer Expenditures

Average annual expenditures per consumer unit(1) rose 1.7 percent in 2008 following an increase of 2.6 percent in 2007, according to results from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The spending increase was less than the 3.8-percent increase in prices from 2007 to 2008 as measured by the average annual change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The increase in spending in 2008 was the smallest increase since the 0.3-percent rise in 2003.

Increases in spending for housing (1.1 percent) and food (5.1 percent) were somewhat offset by decreases in spending for transportation (-1.8 percent) and apparel (-4.3 percent) resulting in the small overall increase in 2008. Among the other major components, spending increased for healthcare (4.3 percent), personal insurance and pensions (5.0 percent), and entertainment (5.1 percent).

Consumer Expenditure Survey data include the expenditures and income of consumers, as well as the demographic characteristics of those consumers. Tables with more expenditure detail than is shown in this news release will be available at http://www.bls.gov/cex. Published tables provide 2008 CE data by standard classifications that include income quintile, income class, age of reference person, size of consumer unit, number of earners, composition of consumer unit, region of residence, housing tenure, type of area (urban-rural), race, Hispanic origin, occupation, and education. Other tables available on the website include expenditures by age, region, size, or gender cross-tabulated by income before taxes and other demographic variables. Historical tables back to 1984 and tabulations for selected metropolitan areas are also available. $

Consumer Spending from 1988-2008
A primary use of the Consumer Expenditure Survey data is to measure how consumers allocate their spending among the various components of total expenditures. For example, the 2008 data show that the largest component of consumers’ budgets is housing, which accounts for about a third of overall spending. Another use of the CE data is to look at how spending patterns change over time. Table B shows how the amounts spent for selected expenditure components changed over the 20-year period from 1988 to 2008, in nominal dollars. As prices and incomes generally rise over time, it is expected that the nominal dollar amounts spent on various components will also increase. However, differences in the rates of price increases (or decreases), shifts in expenditure patterns, and economic conditions such as the recent recessionary period, will all contribute to changes in the amounts that consumers allocate to the spending components. Spending changes include:
• Spending on owned dwellings, a component of housing that includes such items as mortgage interest, property taxes and insurance, and maintenance and repairs, showed a large increase from $2,569 in 1988 to $6,760 in 2008.
• The run-up in gasoline prices is reflected in the rapid rise in expenditures in the last several years.
• Spending on both food and healthcare showed steady increases over the period.
• The amount spent on apparel and services showed very little change over the period, from $1,489 in 1988 to $1,801 in 2008, a reflection of the small increase in clothing prices over the period—just 3.0 percent as measured by the CPI-U. In contrast, the overall CPI-U increased by 82.0 percent over the same period.

by Michael S. Steele, Chairman, Republican National Committee

I’m sure you’ve heard the news — Barack Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. It’s a stunning, if not truly surprising, indication of just how meaningless a once honorable and respected award has become.

What has President Obama actually accomplished? It is unfortunate that the president’s star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights.

Even the normally fawning media have expressed shock at the clearly political and unmerited award. But the Democrats clearly see it differently, with DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse stating “the Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists — the Taliban and Hamas this morning — in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.”

Like most Americans, the DNC can’t think of one achievement that the president has accomplished, so they resort to their predictable response and standard playbook of demonizing anyone who disagrees with them.

First they call Americans concerned over health care “rabid extremists” and “angry mobs.” Now, when challenged to answer the question of what the president has accomplished, Democrats are lashing out calling Republicans terrorists. That type of political rhetoric is shameful.

The Democrats and their international leftist allies want America made subservient to the agenda of global redistribution and control. And truly patriotic Americans like you and our Republican Party are the only thing standing in their way.

Though they have been getting less attention from the media, Somali pirates are still active. The latest attack was a mistake. Pirates tried to take over a French navy ship.

“The pirates, who because of the darkness took the French ship for a commercial vessel, were on board two vessels and opened fire with Kalashnikovs,” Admiral Christophe Prazuck.

The French Navy caught on of the attacking boats; however, the pirates had thrown everything overboard leaving little evidence.

by InciWeb

Sheep Canyon Wild Fire In California

The Sheep Fire started near Sheep Canyon Road near Lytle Creek at about 2:11 pm on Saturday October 3, 2009. It burned northeast to Swarthout Canyon Road, then northwest up Lone Pine Canyon. It is currently burning near the top of Lone Pine Canyon near Wrightwood, CA. It has not crossed Hwy 138 at this time. The fire is about 1/4 mile from Hwy 2 and homes in the area. Firefighters are cautiously optimistic at this time about keeping the fire from burning into Wrightwood. There are numerous helitankers and fixed wing air tankers dropping water and retardant on the fire, as well as crews working on the ground and engines doing structure protection.

New mandatory evacuations are in place for all Wrightwood residents. Mandatory evacuations remain in place for the following areas in Lytle Creek: Applewhite Campground, Applewhite Picnic Area, and areas east of Lytle Creek Road up to and including Mountain Lakes RV Park. Mandatory evacuations are also in place also for Swarthout Canyon, Lone Pine Canyon, and areas along Hwy 138 between I-15 and Hess Rd. Evacuation Centers are located at Eisenhower High School in Rialto and at Victorville Fairgrounds. Small animals can be taken to the Devore Animal Shelter. Large and small animals may be taken to the Victorville Fairgrounds. Glen Helen Rodeo grounds was taking large animals but is now full.

Basic Information
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin Saturday October 03rd, 2009 approx 02:11 PM
Location Between Lytle Creek & Lone Pine Canyons
Incident Commander Woychak, Wessel, Stalknak

Current Situation
Total Personnel 702
Size 7,500 acres
Percent Contained 20%
Fuels Involved Chaparral and timber

Fire Behavior Large fire growth and short range spotting has been occurring, fire is fuel, topography, and wind driven

Significant Events Lytle Creek Community Meeting for residents to learn more about the fire will be tonight at 8:00 pm Lytle Creek Community Center, address 14082 Center Road, Lytle Creek. Another community meeting will be held also at 8:00 pm at the Victorville Fairgrounds, 14800 7th Street, Victorville.

Outlook
Planned Actions Crews are constructing direct fireline and numerous engine strike teams are in place for sturcture protection for the eastern portions of Wrightwood. The fire has not crossed Hwy 138 or Hwy 2 at this time.

Growth Potential Extreme

Terrain Difficulty Extreme

Remarks The Forest Service is in unified command with San Bernardino County Fire and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Resources assigned to the fire are: 21 handcrews, 55 engines, 4 dozers, 4 water tenders, 10 helicopters and 9 airtankers (including the DC-10 and the Martin Mars). Evacuations: All residents of Wrightwood are under a mandatory evacuation. Mandatory evacuations remain for residents in Swarthout and Lone Pine Canyons, Hwy 138 between I-15 and Hess Road, and residents on the east side of Lytle Creek Road including Applewhite Campground and Mountain Lakes Resort. Road Closures: Hwy 2, Hwy 138 between I-15 and Hwy 2, Lone Pine Canyon Road, Lytle Creek Road.

The President is backing a bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed, the bill would reduce banks’ and Sallie Mae’s part of the $92 billion university student loan business. Instead, the U.S. Education Department would run a new program.

“Ending this unwarranted subsidy for the big banks is a no-brainer for folks everywhere. Everywhere except Washington, that is,” Obama said. “In fact, we’re already seeing the special interests rallying to save this giveaway.

“The large banks — many who have benefited from taxpayer bailouts during the financial crisis — are lobbying to keep this easy money flowing. This is exactly the kind of special interest effort that has succeeded before and that we cannot allow to succeed again,” he said.

Washington, DC — The loan modification that was supposed to offered to homes going into foreclosure does not appear to be working. Michael Barr, assistant Treasury secretary for financial institutions, said, “The recent crisis in the housing sector has devastated families and communities across the country and is at the center of our financial crisis and economic downturn.” He went on to say, “even if HAMP (the Home Affordable Modification Program) is a total success, we should still expect millions of foreclosures.”

California has at least five major forest fires that are not under control. The largest is The Station Fire:

Name: Station Fire
County: Los Angeles County
Location: Hwy 2, 1.5 miles north of USFS Angeles Crest Station
Administrative Unit: Angeles National Forest
Status/Notes: 144,743 acres – 38% contained
Date Started: August 26, 2009 3:30 pm
Last update: September 3, 2009 7:00 am

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the area. Station Fire already burnt 226 square miles and is one of the largest wildfires in California history.

“Even though we are still battling those fires, we are now trying to help get people’s lives rebuilt,” Schwarzenegger said. “When you see this kind of devastation, it’s horrible to lose your home, your personal belongings.”

“We’re changing the pace and treating this as a marathon. If it were a 26-mile race, we’d only be at mile six,” said U.S. Forest Service incident commander Mike Dietrich.

Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy.

For five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts.

I valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I’ve profited as President from his encouragement and wisdom.

An important chapter in our history has come to an end. Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States Senator of our time.

And the Kennedy family has lost their patriarch, a tower of strength and support through good times and bad.

Our hearts and prayers go out to them today–to his wonderful wife, Vicki, his children Ted Jr., Patrick and Kara, his grandchildren and his extended family.

Statement to Employees by Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Leon E. Panetta on Release of Material on Past Detention Practices

Today, as part of a number of Freedom of Information Act cases, the government is responding to court orders to release more documents related to the Agency’s past detention and interrogation of foreign terrorists. The CIA materials include the 2004 report from our Office of Inspector General and two papers—one from 2004 and the other from 2005—that discuss the value of intelligence acquired from high-level detainees. The complete package is hundreds of pages long. The declassification process, a mandatory part of the proceedings, was conducted in accord with established FOIA guidelines.

This is in many ways an old story. The outlines of prior interrogation practices, and many of the details, are public already. The use of enhanced interrogation techniques, begun when our country was responding to the horrors of September 11th, ended in January. For the CIA now, the challenge is not the battles of yesterday, but those of today and tomorrow. It is there that we must work to enhance the safety of our country. That is the job the American people want us to do, and that is my responsibility as the current Director of the CIA.

My emphasis on the future comes with a clear recognition that our Agency takes seriously proper accountability for the past. As the intelligence service of a democracy, that’s an important part of who we are. When it comes to past detention and interrogation practices, here are some facts to bear in mind on that point:

The CIA itself commissioned the Inspector General’s review. The report, prepared five years ago, noted both the effectiveness of the interrogation program and concerns about how it had been run early on. Several Agency components, including the Office of General Counsel and the Directorate of Operations, disagreed with some of the findings and conclusions.
The CIA referred allegations of abuse to the Department of Justice for potential prosecution. This Agency made no excuses for behavior, however rare, that went beyond the formal guidelines on counterterrorism. The Department of Justice has had the complete IG report since 2004. Its career prosecutors have examined that document—and other incidents from Iraq and Afghanistan—for legal accountability. They worked carefully and thoroughly, sometimes taking years to decide if prosecution was warranted or not. In one case, the Department obtained a criminal conviction of a CIA contractor. In other instances, after Justice chose not to pursue action in court, the Agency took disciplinary steps of its own.
The CIA provided the complete, unredacted IG report to the Congress. It was made available to the leadership of the Congressional intelligence committees in 2004 and to the full committees in 2006. All of the material in the document has been subject to Congressional oversight and reviewed for legal accountability.
As Director in 2009, my primary interest—when it comes to a program that no longer exists—is to stand up for those officers who did what their country asked and who followed the legal guidance they were given. That is the President’s position, too. The CIA was aggressive over the years in seeking new opinions from the Department of Justice as the legal landscape changed. The Agency sought and received multiple written assurances that its methods were lawful. The CIA has a strong record in terms of following legal guidance and informing the Department of Justice of potentially illegal conduct.

I make no judgments on the accuracy of the 2004 IG report or the various views expressed about it. Nor am I eager to enter the debate, already politicized, over the ultimate utility of the Agency’s past detention and interrogation effort. But this much is clear: The CIA obtained intelligence from high-value detainees when inside information on al-Qa’ida was in short supply. Whether this was the only way to obtain that information will remain a legitimate area of dispute, with Americans holding a range of views on the methods used. The CIA requested and received legal guidance and referred allegations of abuse to the Department of Justice. President Obama has established new policies for interrogation.

The CIA must also keep its focus on the primary responsibility of protecting the country. America is a nation at war. This Agency plays a decisive role in helping the United States meet the full range of security threats and opportunities overseas. That starts with the continuing fight against al-Qa’ida and its sympathizers. There, alongside all its other contributions, the CIA is helping our government chart a new way forward on interrogation, one in keeping with the President’s Executive Order of January 22nd. You, the men and women of this great institution, do the hard work and take the tough risks that intelligence and espionage demand.

I am very proud of what you do, here and abroad, to protect the United States. Your skill, courage, commitment, and focus on mission make the CIA indispensable to the nation. It is a privilege to serve with you.

Leon E. Panetta

Statement by Chairman Ben S. Bernanke:

Thank you, Mr. President.

I would like to express my gratitude to President Obama for the confidence he has shown in me with this nomination and for his unwavering support for a strong and independent Federal Reserve.

It has been a particular privilege for me to serve with extraordinary colleagues throughout the Federal Reserve System. They have demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness, dedication, and stamina under trying conditions. Through the long nights and weekends and the time away from their families, they have never lost sight of the critical importance of the work of the Fed for the economic well-being of all Americans. I am deeply grateful for their efforts.

I especially want to thank my own family–my wife Anna and our children, Joel and Alyssa. Without their support and sacrifice I could not undertake this task.

The Federal Reserve, like other economic policymakers, has been challenged by the unprecedented events of the past few years. We have been bold or deliberate as circumstances demanded, but our objective remains constant: to restore a more stable economic and financial environment in which opportunity can again flourish, and in which Americans’ hard work and creativity can receive their proper rewards.

Mr. President, I commit today to you and to the American people that, if confirmed by the Senate, I will work to the utmost of my abilities–with my colleagues at the Federal Reserve and alongside the Congress and the Administration–to help provide a solid foundation for growth and prosperity in an environment of price stability.

Thank you.