At the end of September 2007, nearly 4% of primate mortgages were past due or in foreclosure, the highest rate since 1998 (Source: The New York Times, February 2008).
Since 2005, the U.S. dollar has declined 36% against a basket of foreign currencies (Source: Money, 2007).
According to a recent report, the IRS audited 9.2% of taxpayers with incomes of $1 million or more in 2007, compared with 6.3% in 2006. However, fewer than 1% (0.9%) of tax returns filed by those earning less than $100,000 were audited, a nominal increase compared with 2006 (Source: Plansponsor.com, January 2008).
Grandparents earning $46,000 a year spend $600 annually on grandchildren, while those earning $75,000 or more annually spend $1,1332 (Source: Journal of Financial Planning, January 2008).
When a recent survey of affluent households asked how much money it takes to be rich, 45% chose $5 million, 25% selected $25 million, and 8% picked $100 million. Only 22% said $1 million is enough to be rich (Source: Millionairecorner.com, 2008).