The Minimum Wage: Then and Now

After adjusting for inflation, the federal minimum wage declined by 22 percent between 1979 and 2013. Here is the federal minimum wage in both years (in 2013 dollars)...

1979: $9.33
2013: $7.25

Physician Beliefs Drive Health Care Spending

It's not patients, but physicians who cause the variation in Medicare expenditures by region, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research study.

"Differences in physician beliefs about the effectiveness of treatments are the primary source of variation in Medicare expenditures," say the researchers. "As much as 36 percent of end-of-life Medicare expenditures, and 17 percent of overall Medicare expenditures, are explained by physician beliefs that cannot be justified either by patient preferences or by clinical effectiveness."

Source: National Bureau of Economic Research, Physician Beliefs and Patient Preferences: A New Look at Regional Variation in Health Care Spending, NBER Working Paper 19320

The Experience of Long-Term Unemployment

More than one in five men (22 percent) have experienced long-term unemployment during their career, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics' analysis of panel survey data. Long-term unemployment is defined as 27 or more weeks without a job. This finding comes from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, which has been tracking the experiences of people born from 1957 through 1964 for more than three decades. The cohort being tracked is the younger half of the baby-boom generation and now aged 48 to 56.

Long-term unemployment has affected some men more than others. Among non-Hispanic white men in the cohort, 19 percent had experienced a spell of long-term unemployment by 2010. The figure was more than twice as high among black men—41 percent had experienced long-term unemployment during their career. Only 10 percent of men with a bachelor's degree had been unemployment for more than half a year versus 25 percent of high school graduates and 40 percent of high school dropouts.

The average spell of long-term unemployment lasted 55 weeks and reduced men's earnings even years later. Four years after the first long-term unemployment spell, men's average hourly wages were 7 percent below what they had been four years before the unemployment began.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Long-Term Unemployment over Men's Careers

The Shocking Truth about How the Government Measures the Income of the Elderly

Older Americans are faring much better than younger ones, and they have been for well more than a decade. Between 2000 and 2011, the median income of households headed by people aged 65 or older grew 10 percent, after adjusting for inflation. At the same time, the median income of households headed by adults under age 55 fell by a steep 12 to 16 percent.

Now we find out it's even worse than we thought. Little known fact: when measuring household income, the government does not count money withdrawn from defined-contribution retirement accounts. That's right, the Current Population Survey, the American Community Survey, and the Survey of Income and Program Participation do not count withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k)s unless they are taken as annuities—a rare occurrence these days.

We're not talking pocket change here. According to a Social Security Bulletin study, one in five households headed by a person aged 65 or older withdrew money from a defined-contribution retirement account in 2009 (the most recent year analyzed). The median withdrawal was $3,300. Among those who took distributions, median household income grew from $42,000 to $50,000—an 18 percent boost.

The authors of the study conclude with this warning: "If household surveys—especially the CPS, which is used to develop official estimates of household income and the number of persons in poverty—do not accurately identify sources and amounts of income, they will provide misleading results. Inaccurate statistics about household income could lead to inappropriate policies."

If nothing else, a more accurate estimate of the incomes of the elderly will fully reveal the expanding economic sinkhole into which younger generations are disappearing.

Source: Social Security Bulletin, The Impact of Retirement Account Distributions on Measures of Family Income

Health Insurance Status of Children, 1996 and 2011

Children under age 18 by health insurance status in 2011 (and in 1996), by type of insurance...

Private insurance: 56% (68%)
Public insurance: 38% (22%)
No insurance: 6% (10%)

Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, The Uninsured in America, 1996-2012: Estimates for the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population under Age 65

Children Cost 23% More

Raising a child costs 23 percent more today than in 1960, according to the USDA. The average middle-income married couple can expect to spend $13,000 to $15,000 per year raising a child to age 18, for a total expenditure of $241,080. This is up from $195,690 in 1960, after adjusting for inflation. The cost estimate includes housing, clothing, food, transportation, health care, and child care/education. It excludes the cost of college.

Some of the expense of raising a child has declined over the decades. Food costs less in 2012 than in 1960, and so does clothing. But health care costs have climbed from 4 to 8 percent of the total cost of raising a child, and child care/education costs have grown even more as mothers went to work. In 2012, child care/education accounted for 18 percent of the total cost of raising a child, making it the second largest expense of childrearing after housing.

Source: USDA, Expenditures on Children by Families

Household Energy Consumption by State

Want to know how household energy consumption differs by state? Check out the 16 state fact sheets on household energy use now available from the Energy Information Administration. Each fact sheet compares state averages with national averages on a range of energy consumption topics from housing type to number of televisions owned, use of programmable thermostats, and whether a car is parked within 20 feet of an electrical outlet.

In Florida, 27 percent of household electrical consumption is used for air conditioning. In Texas, it's 18 percent and in Wisconsin 1 percent. State fact sheets are also available for Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Would You Stop Working?

If they won $10 million in a lottery, only 31 percent of American workers say they would stop working. But the percentage who would stop working differs greatly by age...

Would stop working if won $10 million
Aged 18 to 34: 18%
Aged 35 to 54: 33%
Aged 55-plus: 49%

Source: Gallup, In U.S., Most Would Still Work Even if They Won Millions

Fertility Status of American Men

Among men aged 15 to 44, more than three out of four (77 percent) are "presumed fertile," according to the National Survey of Family Growth. Here is the fertility status of men by age...

Aged 15 to 24: 94.3%
Aged 25 to 29: 87.8%
Aged 30 to 34: 73.9%
Aged 35 to 39: 60.8%
Aged 40 to 44: 48.1%

What accounts for the decline in the fertility of men by age? Mostly their own or their partner's surgical sterility. By their early forties, 40 percent of men (or their partners) are surgically sterile. A much smaller percentage of men are "subfertile" (meaning they would have difficulty fathering a child). The figure ranges from a low of 3 to 4 percent among men under age 30 to between 6 and 8 percent among men aged 30 to 44.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Infertility and Impaired Fecundity in the United States, 1982-2010: Data from the National Survey of Family Growth

Fecundity Status of American Women

Among American women aged 15 to 44, two out of three (66.5 percent) are fecund (meaning they are able to have children), according to the National Survey of Family Growth. Another 22.7 percent are surgically sterile, and 10.9 percent have impaired fecundity (difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term). By age, here is the percentage of women who are "presumed fecund"...

Aged 15 to 24: 92.0%

Aged 25 to 29: 74.3%

Aged 30 to 34: 61.1%

Aged 35 to 39: 46.0%

Aged 40 to 44: 33.5%

What accounts for the plunge in fecundity with age? Surgical sterilization. The percentage of women who have been surgically sterilized rises from essentially zero among the youngest women to 49 percent among those aged 40 to 44. Interestingly, the percentage of women with impaired fecundity shows little variation by age. It is 7 percent among the youngest women and ranges from 12 to 14 percent among women aged 25 to 44. 

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Infertility and Impaired Fecundity in the United States, 1982-2010: Data from the National Survey of Family Growth

Online Bankers

Among the nation's Internet users, the 61 percent majority bank online. The percentage of Internet users who do any banking online peaks among those with a college degree (75 percent) and a household income of $75,000 or more (also 75 percent). By age, the online bankers are...

Aged 18 to 29: 67%
Aged 30 to 49: 65%
Aged 50 to 64: 55%
Aged 65-plus: 47%

Source: Pew Internet and American Life Project, Online Banking

Are Young Borrowers Bad Borrowers?

The notion that young borrowers are bad borrowers is tested in a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Using data on young adults who obtained credit cards after passage of the 2009 Credit Card Accountability and Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, the researchers examined the default rates of those who made the effort to obtain credit cards early. The Act made it illegal to issue credit cards to people under age 21 unless they had a cosigner.

Those who self-select into getting credit cards before age 21 are (perhaps not surprisingly) less likely to default than older adults and those who enter the credit card market at an older age. Interestingly, the young adults who opted for an early credit card were also more likely to get a mortgage at a younger age. "The relation between mortgages and early credit card use indicates that young people may choose to enter the credit card market to build a strong credit history to later access homeownership," say the researchers. They conclude: "The results caution against interpreting early entry into the credit card market as a consequence of suboptimal or myopic behavior."

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Are Young Borrowers Bad Borrowers? Evidence from the Credit CARD Act of 2009

The Mystery of the Urban Renaissance

Why are the nation's urban centers growing again? The reasons are complex and not easily explained, often resulting in circular arguments such as "Millennials apparently drive less because they prefer walkable places and they prefer walkable places because they drive less," says Robert Steuteville, editor and publisher of Better! Cities and Towns.

Steuteville unravels the mystery of why cities are growing in one of the most insightful pieces on the topic to date. He thinks four factors are behind the growing preference for urban life. Although his analysis doesn't get into details (whole books could be written about each factor), by identifying and linking the processes driving urban growth Steuteville goes a long way toward explaining one of the most important trends of our time.

1. Millennials "looked around their home towns and saw something missing," says Steuteville. Take a drive and you soon see what he means. In the decades since the baby-boom generation populated small town and suburban America, those areas have lost their soul. Mom and Pop establishments, once the foundation of community, have been replaced by Dollar stores, AutoZones, Walmarts, and McDonalds staffed by minimum wage workers and vacuuming local dollars away from the community. Today's small towns and suburbs are devoid of a sense of place and offer little economic opportunity for the most highly educated generation in history.

2. "The higher the education level, the greater the demand for urban living," reports Steuteville. No wonder, then, that Millennials are flocking to cities—the generation is better educated than any other. Nearly two-thirds have college experience and one-third has a bachelor's degree. With so many Millennials spending years in walkable college neighborhoods, says Steuteville, they have tasted a higher quality of life and want more of it.

3. The fact is, of course, they can't afford to buy a house in the suburbs even if they wanted one. Student debt, says Steuteville, prevents Millennials from spending on houses and cars.

4. "But the biggest incentive may be their peers," Steuteville concludes. Millennials are moving to urban centers because that's where their friends are, he explains. With the median age at first marriage at a record high for both men and women, Millennials face a choice—live with Mom and Dad in a dead zone or join their friends in a vibrant urban area where jobs are growing and opportunities abound.

"The tide has shifted and it's carrying 80 million people inward," concludes Steuteville.

Source: Better! Cities and Towns, Why Are Young Adults Returning to the City?

Buying Groceries with Cash

When Americans shop for groceries, they are most likely to pay with cash, according to a Boston Fed analysis of Nielsen scanner data. Over a one month time period, cash is the payment type used in 48 percent of grocery store transactions, cards (debit or credit) are used in 45 percent of transactions, and checks in 7 percent.

Examine transactions by value, however, and the pattern changes. Cards account for 57 percent of the value of grocery store transactions, cash accounts for about a third, and checks account for the remaining 10 percent. The average cash expenditure in a grocery store is $35.36. The average card expenditure is $64.91. The average check expenditure is $79.20.

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Payment Choice with Consumer Panel Data

How Many Are Bilingual?

Overall, 34 percent of Americans aged 18 or older know a second language well enough to hold a conversation. Here are the bilingual percentages by age group...

Aged 18 to 29: 52%
Aged 30 to 49: 36%
Aged 50 to 64: 27%
Aged 65-plus: 21%

Source: Gallup, Most in U.S. Say It's Essential that Immigrants Learn English

Cable versus Netflix

The 53 percent majority of American households subscribe to cable television service. But boomers and older Americans are far more likely to get cable than Gen Xers or Millennials. Only 44 percent of households headed by Millennials are cable television subscribers, according to a Harris Interactive survey. Among Gen Xers, the figure is 47 percent. Most Boomers (56 percent) and older Americans (59 percent) subscribe to cable.

Netflix streaming service shows the opposite patten. Overall, 24 percent of households subscribe to Netflix streaming. Among Millennials, however, fully 40 percent subscribe to Netflix streaming—almost equal to cable service. The figure is 30 percent among Gen Xers, 18 percent among Boomers, and just 5 percent among older Americans.

Source: Harris Interactive, Growth in Ownership of Smartphones and Tablets Appears Largely Android-Driven

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Number of Americans who participate in selected leisure activities on an average day...

190,701,000 watch television
  57,231,000 read for personal interest
    3,311,000 attend a movie
    2,691,000 do arts and crafts
    2,647,000 attend a sports event
    1,411,000 attend performing arts event
       546,000 write for personal interest
       540,000 vist museums, zoos, art galleries, or gardens

Note: Performing arts include concerts, musicals, ballet, theater, dance, jazz bars, and comedy clubs.
Source: National Endowment for the Arts, An Average Day in the Arts: State Participation Patterns from the American Time Use Survey for 2006-2010

Fast Food Facts

Nearly half (47 percent) of Americans eat fast food at least once a week, according to a Gallup survey. Just 8 percent say they eat fast food only a few times a year or never.

The percentage who eat fast food weekly peaks among 18-to-29-year-olds at 57 percent. The percentage who never or rarely eat it peaks among people aged 65 or older at 26 percent.

Source: Gallup, Fast Food Still Major Part of U.S. Diet

Living to Age 120

Most of the public does not want to live to the age of 120, according to a Pew survey. The 56 percent majority of Americans say they personally "would not want medical treatments that slow the aging process and allow the average person to live decades longer, to at least 120 years." Interestingly, however, 68 percent think others would choose to live that long.

Not so. The median ideal life span, according to the Pew survey, is 90 years. Even among people aged 65 or older, 90 remains the ideal.

Source: Pew Research Religion and Public Life Project, Living to 120 and Beyond: Americans Views on Aging, Medical Advances and Radical Life Extension

61 Million Do Not Speak English at Home

Fully 61 million Americans aged 5 or older speak a language other than English at home—a substantial 21 percent of the population. A new Census Bureau report (Language Use in the United States: 2011) analyzes the languages Americans speak at home, which range from Spanish and Chinese to Arabic, Hebrew, and Navajo. The report also looks at the English-language ability of those who speak other languages at home.

Among those who do not speak English at home, nearly two out of three (38 million) speak Spanish. Among Spanish speakers, the 56 percent majority speak English "very well." Other languages spoken in the home by at least 1 million Americans are Chinese (2.9 million), Tagalog (1.6 million), Vietnamese (1.4 million), French (1.3 million), Korean (1.1 million), and German (1.1 million). Most of those who speak Tagalog, French, or German at home also speak English very well. Most of those who speak Chinese, Vietnamese, or Korean at home do not speak English very well.

The report includes statistics for states and selected metropolitan areas. The Census Bureau also created an interactive language mapper that zooms in on areas as small as census tracts where at least 10 people speak one of 15 languages other than English at home.

Schools You Might Want to Avoid

These are the states in which more than 5 percent of children in kindergarten have not been vaccinated against diseases such as mumps, measles, rubella, and whooping cough because of their parents' religious or philosophical objections...

Idaho
Michigan
Oregon
Vermont

Source: CDC, Vaccination Coverage among Children in Kindergarten—United States, 2012-13 School Year

Job Growth along the Rural-Urban Continuum

The more urban the county, the greater the population growth during the 2010-to-2012 time period, according to my analysis of the Census Bureau's county population estimates by county rank on the Rural-Urban Continuum. But what about job growth along the Rural-Urban Continuum? Not surprisingly, the pattern is the same...

• The number of employed grew the fastest in the most urban counties between 2010 and 2012, up 2.9 percent. These are counties in metropolitan areas of 1 million or more people (a 1 on the Rural-Urban Continuum). 
• In smaller metros (2 or 3 on the continuum), the number of employed grew between 1.4 and 1.9 percent during those years. 
• In small-town America (nonmetropolitan counties ranking 4 to 7 on the continuum), the number of employed grew by only 0.8 percent. 
• In rural counties (8 or 9 on the continuum), employment climbed just 0.7 percent.  

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, Rural-Urban Continuum Codes and Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Employment Statistics, County Data

The For-Profit Enrollment Surge

A substantial 12 percent of the nation's four-year college students are enrolled in for-profit institutions, according to 2011 data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Only 3 percent were enrolled in for-profit schools in 2000, and the figure was below 1 percent in 1990. Here are the enrollment figures for those years...

Students enrolled in for-profit four-year colleges
2011: 1,559,080
2000:    257,885
1990:      59,243

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2012 Digest of Education Statistics

Best Family Life

Most Americans long ago rejected "traditional" sex roles, defined as a husband who works outside the home and a wife who cares for the house and family. Only 32 percent of the public thought this arrangement was best in 2012, down from 66 percent who felt that way in 1977 when the General Social Survey first asked the question.

But as questions get more specific, attitudes toward sex roles get more traditional. When Americans are asked which is the best way to organize family life when a couple has a preschooler, the largest percentage (41 percent) say father should work full-time and mother should work part-time. Almost as many (40 percent) say mother should stay at home. Only 11 percent think both parents working full-time is the best solution. Women are more likely than men to think mother should work part-time, and men are more likely than women to say mother should not work at all.

Conversely, when Americans are asked which is the worst way to organize family life for a couple with a preschooler, the largest share (39 percent) say the worst way is a stay-at-home father and a mother who works full-time. Almost as many (36 percent) say both parents working full-time is the worst. Men and women are about equally likely to agree on the worst way to organize family life.

Profiting from Minorities

Minorities account for the 51 percent majority of four-year college students enrolled in the nation's private, for-profit schools.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2012 Digest of Education Statistics (table 268).

Night Shift

Among all full-time workers in the United States, 15 percent work nonstandard schedules—defined as working most hours in the evening or night (between 6:00 pm and 6:00 am) or working weekends, according to an Urban Institute study. Among low-wage workers, a larger 25 percent work nonstandard schedules. These occupations have the largest proportion of full-time workers on nonstandard schedules...

Security guards: 56%
Waiters and waitresses: 53%
Laborers, freight, stock, and material movers: 48%
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides: 44%
Stock clerks and order fillers: 40%
Janitors and building cleaners: 40%
Registered nurses: 36%
Cooks: 35%
Cashiers: 35%
Personal care aides: 34%

Source: Urban Institute, Nonstandard Work Schedules and the Well-Being of Low-Income Families

Who Wants to Quit?

Among smokers aged 18 or older, 74 percent want to quit. They have tried to stop smoking an average of 3.6 times.

Source: Gallup, Most U.S. Smokers Want to Quit, Have Tried Multiple Times

Trends in Healthy Life Expectancy

Older Americans are living longer than ever, but are they enjoying those years in good health? That question is posed by a National Bureau of Economic Research study, which measured the health status of the elderly in the years prior to death based on data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.

There is good news to report: life expectancy at age 65 is growing, and so are years of healthy life. The average 65-year-old in 2003-05 could expect to live an additional 18.2 years in total, up from 17.5 years for their counterparts in 1991-93. Of those 18.2 years of life, 10.4 years are lived free of disability, up from 8.8 disability-free years for 65-year-olds in 1991-93. The number of years of expected life lived with a disability fell from 8.7 years in the earlier time period to 7.8 years in the 2000s.

But the findings are different if healthy life is defined as one without disease rather than disability. Disease-free life expectancy has increased, but so has life expectancy with a major disease (defined as cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, pulmonary disease, heart attack, heart disease, stroke, broken hip, arthritis, or diabetes). Of the 18.2 years of total life expectancy for 65-year-olds in 2003-05, 8.6 years are lived free of disease, up from 8.0 disease-free years for their counterparts in 1991-93. But the number of years of expected life lived with a major disease also climbed, from 9.5 years in the earlier time period to 9.7 years in the 2000s.

Source: National Bureau of Economic Research, Evidence for Significant Compression of Morbidity in the Elderly U.S. Population, NBER Working Paper 19268

Who Claims at 62?

Percentage of men who claimed early Social Security benefits at age 62, by birth year...

1920-24: 52%

1925-29: 56%

1930-34: 57%

1935-37: 55%

1938-42: 50%

1943-44: 45%

Source: The Urban Institute, How Did the Great Recession Affect Social Security Claiming?

First-Time Homebuyer Watch: Second Quarter 2013

Homeownership rate of householders aged 30 to 34, second quarter 2013: 48.4%

The homeownership rate of householders aged 30 to 34 fell 0.5 percentage points between the first and second quarters of 2013, to 48.4 percent. Although the homeownership rate of the age group has recovered from the all-time low of 46.9 percent recorded in the third quarter of 2012, it is well below the 50 percent mark (and has been for nine quarters and counting) that defines first-time homebuyers. 

In the new normal, the typical first-time homebuyer is a middle-aged 35-to-39-year-old rather than a young adult. In the second quarter of 2013, the homeownership rate of 35-to-39-year-olds was 55.4 percent, fully 2.2 percentage points lower than one year ago and the biggest year-over-year decline experienced by any age group. Prior to the Great Recession, the homeownership rate of 35-to-39-year-olds exceeded 66 percent.

Nationally, the homeownership rate was 65.0 percent in the second quarter of 2013, identical to the first quarter rate and 0.5 percentage points below the 65.5 percent of one year ago.

Source: Census Bureau, Housing Vacancy Survey

Household Income Up in June 2013

Finally, household income is moving in the right direction. Median annual household income increased between May and June 2013, according to the latest monthly update from Sentier Research. The June median of $52,098 was 0.7 percent higher than the May median, after adjusting for inflation. This is the first statistically significant increase in more than a year, and as the report states: "It is noteworthy that in this latest monthly reading, real median annual household income managed to increase by 0.7 percent even though there was an increase in consumer prices of 0.5 percent."

Despite the increase, median household income has yet to recover from the Great Recession. In June 2013, median household income was still 4.4 percent below the median of June 2009, the end of the Great Recession. It was 6.1 percent lower than the median in December 2007, the start of the Great Recession. It was 7.2 percent lower than the median in January 2000. 

The Household Income Index for June 2013 was 92.8 (January 2000 = 100.0). The index compares median annual household income in a given month as a percent of its value in January 2000, after adjusting for inflation. An Excel spreadsheet of the entire household income time series is available from Sentier's web site for $25.00.

Source: Sentier Research, Trends in Household Income: June 2013

Non-Hispanic Whites in School

Non-Hispanic white share of elementary and secondary students by type of school...

Public: 52%
Private: 71%

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Characteristics of Private Schools in the United States: Results from the 2011-12 Private School Universe Survey and Digest of Education Statistics

In Trouble

Percentage of Americans who have ever...

Received a traffic ticket: 64%
Been picked up by police: 20%
Spent time in prison or jail: 14%

Source: 2012 General Social Survey

Hispanic or Latino?

Which term do Hispanics prefer? According to a Gallup poll, 70 percent of Latinos say it does not matter whether the term "Latino" or "Hispanic" is used.

There is some variation by age in this attitude, however, with the proportion of Hispanics who say either term is ok ranging from a low of 53 percent among people aged 65 or older (with 33 percent preferring Hispanic and 14 percent Latino) to a high of 76 percent among 18-to-29-year-olds (with 16 percent preferring Hispanic and 7 percent Latino).

Source: Gallup, U.S. Blacks, Hispanics Have No Preferences on Group Label

Black or African American?

Which term do African Americans prefer? According to a Gallup poll, 65 percent of blacks say it does not matter whether the term "black" or "African American" is used.

There is little variation by age in this attitude, with the proportion of blacks who say either term is ok ranging from a low of 62 percent among 18-to-29-year-olds (with 20 percent preferring African American and 17 percent black) to a high of 73 percent among those aged 65 or older (with 16 percent preferring African American and 11 percent black).

Source: Gallup, U.S. Blacks, Hispanics Have No Preferences on Group Label

What's Happening with Health Insurance?

The Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges will open for business in a few weeks. On October 1st, each state's exchanges will begin to enroll the nation's uninsured and underinsured in standardized health insurance plans, effective January 1, 2014. The big rollout will generate a lot of media coverage, but it will not have a direct impact on most Americans because the majority already has employer-provided health insurance (55 percent of the population) or Medicare (15 percent). The health insurance exchanges will make a big difference for the 10 percent of Americans who buy health insurance privately and the 16 percent who have no health insurance.

Prepare for a barrage of media reports about the price of health insurance in each state's exchanges. In preparation, keep in mind just how much the average American pays for health insurance. Among private-sector workers, the average health insurance premium for single coverage is $449 per month. For family coverage, the average premium is $1,289 per month, according to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. The typical worker spends less than those amounts because employers pay most of the cost. For the self-employed and those without employer-provided health insurance, however, the cost often greatly exceeds those figures and benefits can be limited. Many Americans can't get insurance at all because of pre-existing conditions. This awkward, paternalistic health insurance system has long distorted the labor market and stunted entrepreneurship in the United States.

All that is about to change. The new health insurance plans must accept all applicants regardless of health status, many Americans will receive subsidies to help them pay the cost, benefits will be standardized, and the uninsured will be required to get insurance or pay a fine. Watching how this much-needed update of our antiquated health insurance system affects health insurance coverage, health care demographics, employment, entrepreneurship, and the American psyche is an armchair demographer's dream.

Is Capitalism Working?

The 53 percent majority of Americans think capitalism is working well, but there is a difference of opinion on this issue by economic status...

Percent who think capitalism is working very or somewhat well by household income
$100,000 or more: 67%
Less than $30,000: 47%

Source: Public Religion Research Institute and The Brookings Institution, Do Americans Believe Capitalism and Government Are Working?

College Degree Outcomes

Despite the high cost of college, most of the nation's parents still believe college is worth the cost, according to the 2013 Sallie Mae report, How America Pays for College. Eighty-five percent of parents with children enrolled in an undergraduate program think college is an investment in their child's future, and 65 percent say having a college degree is more important than it used to be.

They feel this way despite the fact that fewer than half of 21-to-24-year-olds who earned a bachelor's degree between 2003 and 2011 are employed in a job that requires a college degree. Here is the percent distribution of recent college graduates by their current employment status, according to a study by the Economic Mobility Project (How Much Protection Does a College Degree Afford?)...

42% are employed in a "college job"
26% are employed in a "high school job"
22% are attending school
10% are unemployed or not in the labor force

College graduates may be getting beat up in the labor market, but you should have seen the other guy. Among 21-to-24-year-old high school graduates, 45 percent have a high school job, 30 percent are in school, 18 percent are unemployed or not in the labor force, and 7 percent have a college job. That's why parents want their children to go to college—to boost their odds of getting a college job from 7 to 42 percent.

Few Plan for College Expenses

Only 43 percent of American families know how they will pay for college before their child enrolls in school, according to the latest Sallie Mae survey. The college cost "surprise" that greets many families as their child heads out the door is one factor behind the rise in student debt.

The typical family with an 18-to-24-year-old enrolled in an undergraduate program paid $21,178 for college in the 2012-13 school year. The funds came from a combination of parent income and savings ($5,727), loans ($5,760), grants and scholarships ($6,355), student income ($2,284), and gifts from relatives and friends ($1,053).

The out-of-pocket parental contribution to college costs has fallen 35 percent since 2009-10, according to the survey, probably because parents are steering their children toward less expensive schools. During the college admissions process, 67 percent of families eliminated schools from consideration because of their cost.

Source: Sallie Mae, How America Pays for College 2013

America's Philosophical Divide

Here's an interesting way to look at what divides us: a new survey of religious beliefs combined with economic and social attitudes finds Americans falling into four philosophical camps:

38% religious moderates
28% religious conservatives
19% religious progressives
15% nonreligious

Not surprisingly, these four groups differ in size by political party. The 56 percent majority of Republicans, but only 13 percent of Democrats, are religious conservatives. Forty-five percent of Democrats, but only 11 percent of Republicans, are religious progressives or nonreligious.

There are big differences by generation as well. Only 17 percent of Millennials are religious conservatives versus 23 percent of Gen Xers, 34 percent of Boomers, and 47 percent of older Americans (aged 66 or older). Conversely, 45 percent of Millennials are religious progressives or nonreligious versus 33 percent of Gen Xers, 30 percent of Boomers, and just 22 percent of older Americans. These generational differences, says the report, "highlight the likelihood that religious conservatives will shrink as a proportion of the population, while religious progressives will maintain their share and the ranks of the nonreligious will grow."

Source: Public Religion Research Institute and The Brookings Institution, Do Americans Believe Capitalism and Government Are Working?

Zimmerman Verdict Divides Whites

Overall, 39 percent of Americans are satisfied and 42 percent are dissatisfied with the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin (the remainder are uncertain), according to a Pew survey. Among non-Hispanics whites, 49 percent are satisfied by the acquittal, but there are marked differences in the attitudes of non-Hispanic whites by age...

Percent of non-Hispanic whites who are satisfied with the Zimmerman verdict
Aged 18 to 29: 39%
Aged 30 to 49: 43%
Aged 50 to 64: 57%
Aged 65 or older: 56%

Source: Pew Research Center, Big Racial Divide over Zimmerman Verdict

Location Matters

Fascinating article in the New York Times: In Climbing Income Ladder, Location Matters. The article describes a study that maps intergenerational economic mobility by metropolitan area. The finding: location matters. Economic mobility is low in Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, and other southeastern metros and in midwestern metros such as Indianapolis, Columbus, and Cincinnati. Economic mobility is high  in a number of metros in the Northeast and West such as New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, and Seattle.

The differences are not negligible, as the Times' David Leonhardt reports: "Parts of the country with the highest mobility rates—like Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Salt Lake City—have rates roughly as high as those in Denmark and Norway, two countries at the top of the international mobility rankings. In areas like Atlanta and Memphis, by comparison, upward mobility appears to be substantially lower than in any other rich country."

It would be interesting to see these findings overlaid with the Census Bureau's database on metro density moving outward from city hall. The Times article suggests that economic mobility is more difficult in sprawling metros. And what about the geography of metros themselves? Do flat metros encourage sprawl and hilly metros encourage density, boosting opportunity?

Rental Vacancy Rates by Metro

Among the nation's 75 largest metropolitan areas, rental vacancy rates are highest in Orlando, Florida. In 2012, 18.5 percent of rental units in Orlando were vacant—more than twice the 8.6 percent rate for all metro areas. Three other metros had vacancy rates above 15 percent in 2012: Richmond, Virginia; Dayton, Ohio; and New Orleans.

Source: Census Bureau, Housing Vacancy Survey, Annual Statistics: 2012

What's Wrong with the Rural South, Part 2

In the nation as a whole, 301 nonmetropolitan counties are persistently poor. Persistent poverty means at least 20 percent of a county's population lives in poverty as measured by the 1980, 1990, and 2000 censuses and the 2007-11 American Community Survey. Almost all the persistently poor nonmetro counties are in the South. Here are the numbers by region...

252 in the South
29 in the Midwest
20 in the West
0 in the Northeast

Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Persistent-Poverty Counties Are Mostly Nonmetro, Generally Southern

What's Wrong with the Rural South?

That's what the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta is trying to figure out. Of the 164 rural counties under the Atlanta Fed's purview, 136 are in a state of "persistent poverty." With factory work all but gone, any spark that could ignite these economies is promptly smothered by the boots of southern politics. What is needed, says the report, is an investment in infrastructure—including intellectual infrastructure, formal networks of support for entrepreneurs, and innovative financial tools such as microlending.

"Is it worth it?" is the ultimate question asked by the report. To help solve the problems of the rural South, "why not simply give people incentives to move to places where jobs are more plentiful?" One community development leader described the dire situation this way: "You're almost doing triage, trying to stop the bleeding as far as losing companies, and companies downsizing or closing altogether."

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Wanted: Jobs 2.0 in the Rural Southeast

Healthy Life Expectancy by State

With so many baby boomers turning 65, there's a lot of interest in how long boomers can expect to remain healthy. According to a report from the CDC, people aged 65 can expect to live another 19.1 years on average. But they can expect only 13.9 years of healthy life, which the CDC estimates using responses to the question, "Would you say that in general your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?" Those who say their health is "excellent," "very good," or "good" are considered to be healthy. Those who say their health is "fair" or "poor" are no longer living the healthy life.

Not only has the CDC made this calculation for the nation as a whole, but for individual states. Overall, for people aged 65, the state with the longest healthy life expectancy is Hawaii (16.2 years) and the state with the shortest healthy life expectancy is Mississippi (10.8 years). Not surprisingly, blacks have a shorter healthy life expectancy than whites in nearly every state, but both blacks and whites have the shortest healthy life expectancy in the South.

Source: CDC, State-Specific Healthy Life Expectancy at Age 65 Years—United States, 2007-2009

What Causes the Black-White Life Expectancy Gap?

Life expectancy at birth was 75.1 years for blacks and 78.9 years for whites in 2010—a gap of 3.8 years. The National Center for Health Statistics has now determined the causes of death that create most of this gap: heart disease (which accounts for 1 full year of the life expectancy gap), cancer (0.6 years), homicide (0.5 years), diabetes (0.3 years), and perinatal conditions (another 0.3 years).

Higher mortality rates from these causes of death reflect not only African Americans' more limited access to medical care, but also a lack of opportunity that leads to more homicide, teen pregnancy, and premature births. But it's getting better. The black-white life expectancy gap has narrowed considerably as the socioeconomic status of blacks has improved. In 1970, the life expectancy gap was 7.6 years.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, How Did Cause of Death Contribute to Racial Differences in Life Expectancy in the United States in 2010?

Expecting the Worst

Percentage of American workers who expect their standard of living in retirement to...

Decline: 41%
Stay the same: 38%
Increase: 12%
Not sure: 10%

Source: Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, 14th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey of American Workers

Social Security's Declining Role

For baby boomers and younger generations of married couples, Social Security will not replace as much household income as it did for older generation. That's because of the rise of working women and the way benefits are calculated for married couples, according to a report by the Center for Retirement Research (CRR) at Boston College.

In the past, when most wives did not work, Social Security benefits replaced a larger portion of total household income because nonworking wives received a benefit check as well. The nonworking wife's benefit was equal to one-half of her husband's benefit. The CRR report provides an example: if the husband's benefit  replaced 40 percent of his earnings (his earnings = total household income), then the nonworking wife's benefit replaced another 20 percent of his earnings for a 60 percent replacement rate. What a deal!

Unfortunately, that deal has gone the way of the dodo bird. When both husband and wife are in the labor force, the wife's earnings boost household income. But if the wife's Social Security benefits replace 40 percent of her earnings and the husband's benefits replace 40 percent of his earnings, then Social Security replaces only 40 percent of the couple's total household income.

"The drop in replacement rates for couples will lead to a declining role for Social Security,"concludes the CRR report, warning that "retirees will have to rely increasingly on other sources of retirement income."

Source: Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, How Does Women Working Affect Social Security Replacement Rates?

Newsrooms Emptying

The number of full-time professional editorial jobs at the nation's newspapers fell by a steep 18,400 between 2000 and 2012—a 33 percent decline, according to the American Society of News Editors. In 2000, there were 56,400 full-time editorial jobs at newspapers. In 2012, the figure was just 38,000.

Source: Pew research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism, Newspaper Newsrooms Suffer Large Staffing Decreases

Trends in Household Burglary

First, the good news: the number of household burglaries fell sharply between 1994 and 2011—down 56 percent, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Now for the bad news: the median dollar value of the items stolen in completed burglaries grew from $389 to $600 during those years, after adjusting for inflation.

What do burglars want? The same thing the rest of us want: portable electronic devices. In 2011, portable electronics were the most commonly stolen items, taken in 34 percent of completed burglaries. Cash, credit cards, purses, and wallets were stolen in a much smaller 17 percent of completed burglaries. Interestingly, even criminals have turned into couch potatoes. Burglaries in which bicycles or sporting equipment was stolen fell from 13 percent of the total in 1994 to just 9 percent in 2011.

Isolating yourself from your fellow man does little to protect you from burglary. In 2011, the number of completed burglaries per 1,000 households was higher in rural than in urban areas (26.3 in urban areas versus 27.2 in rural areas). Living in a gated community does not offer all that much protection either. The rate of completed burglaries in gated communities was 20.1 versus an only somewhat higher 24.9 outside the gates.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Household Burglary, 1994-2011

Dental Expenditures in 2010

Forty percent of Americans went to the dentist in 2010. Among those who did, the average cost was $666. Just under half the amount ($316) was paid for out-of-pocket.

Source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Dental Expenditures in the 10 Largest States, 2010

Artists in Residence

The nation's 2 million artists account for 1.35 percent of the U.S. labor force, according to a National Endowment for the Arts analysis of 2006-10 American Community Survey data. Artists' share of the labor force varies by state, however, ranging from a high of 1.63 percent in New York to a low of 0.51 percent in West Virginia. The top ten states in the art share of the labor force are...

1. New York

2. California

3. Vermont

4. Oregon

5. Hawaii

6. Massachusetts

7. Colorado

8. Connecticut

9. Washington

10. Nevada

Source: National Endowment for the Arts, National Statistics about Working Artists

Why Student Debt Gets No Respect

If you wonder why the nation's politicians are slow to come to the aid of young adults with student debt, these numbers explain it. The people most likely to vote (older Americans) have no experience with student debt.

Percentage of people who have never had student debt, by generation

Millennials: 51%

Gen Xers: 58%

Boomers: 69%

Matures: 86%

Source: Harris Interactive, Amidst Senate Inaction on Student Loan Rates, Paying Back Student Loans a Considerable Stress Point for Debtors

High Crime States

Violent crime has plummeted over the past few decades. According to the FBI, the nation's violent crime rate was just 386.3 per 100,000 population in 2011—about half the 1992 rate of 757.2. Some states have much higher violent crime rates than others, however. In 2011, these five states had the highest rates of violent crime...

1. Tennessee, 608.2
2. Alaska, 606.5
3. South Carolina, 571.9
4. New Mexico, 567.5
5. Nevada, 562.1

Maine had the lowest rate of violent crime in 2011, with a rate of 123.2.

Source: Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics

Retirement Savings by Generation

Every generation boosted its retirement savings between 2007 and 2013, according to the 14th Annual Retirement Survey from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.

• Boomers have saved a median of $104,000 for retirement, up from $75,000
• Gen Xers have saved a median of $45,000 for retirement, up from $32,000 
• Millennials have saved a median of $19,000 for retirement, up from $9,000

Who Worries about Hurricanes?

Hurricane Sandy clearly focused the attention of the Northeast on the hurricane threat. When asked which natural disaster would be most likely to directly affect them, fear of hurricanes is greater in the Northeast than in the South. Sixty-three percent of Northeastern residents say a hurricane would directly affect them versus a smaller 57 percent of those in the South who say they would feel the pain.

Despite their newfound fear of hurricanes, snowstorms are the number-one natural disaster concern in the Northeast (cited by 70%). Tornadoes are the biggest worry in the South (66%), and they are an even greater concern in the Midwest (87%). Earthquakes are the biggest natural disaster threat for residents of the West (67%). Overall, 54 percent of Americans say they are prepared for a natural disaster with a three-day supply of food, water, and other necessities.

Source: Harris Interactive, Just Over Half of Americans Say They Are Prepared for a Long Term Power Outage or Disaster

Who is an Artist?

There are 2 million working artists in the United States, according to an analysis of data from the Census Bureau's 2006-10 American Community Survey. An artist is defined as someone who devotes the most hours in a given week to one of 11 occupations as defined by the federal government's Standard Occupational Classification system...

1. Actors: includes voice-over artists
2. Announcers: includes talk/game show hosts and radio disk jockeys (think Rush Limbaugh)
3. Architects: includes golf course designers
4. Fine artists, art directors, and animators: includes tattoo artists
5. Dancer and choreographers
6. Designers: includes commercial and industrial designers
7. Other entertainers: includes comedians (think Bill Maher)
8. Musicians and singers
9. Photographers: includes medical photographers
10. Producers and directors
11. Writers and authors: includes advertising copywriters

Source: National Endowment for the Arts, National Statistics about Working Artists

Age at First Birth

On average, American women are 25.6 years old when they have their first baby, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. This is up from an average age of 21.4 in 1970.

A woman's age at first birth varies by race and Hispanic origin, ranging from a low of 22.4 for American Indian women to 29.1 for Asian women. Average age at first birth is 23.4 for black women, 23.7 for Hispanic women, and 26.5 for non-Hispanic white women.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Births: Final Data for 2011

Never-Married Men

Percentage of men aged 25 to 29 who have never married, 1970 and 2012...

1970: 19%
2012: 63%

Source: Census Bureau, America's Families and Living Arrangements

Fewer Kids Drinking Milk

Percentage of children aged 2 to 12 who do not drink milk on an average day...

1977-78: 12%
2007-08: 24%

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, Why Are Americans Consuming Less Fluid Milk? A Look at Generational Differences in Intake Frequency

Who Controls the Nation's Wealth?

American households had an aggregate net worth (assets minus liabilities) of $40 trillion in 2011. By far the largest share of the nation's wealth is controlled by householders aged 65 or older. Here is the distribution of household wealth by age of householder...

Under age 35: 4%
Aged 35 to 44: 9%
Aged 45 to 54: 18%
Aged 55 to 64: 26%
Aged 65-plus: 43%

Source: Census Bureau, Wealth and Asset Ownership

Kids Count

But not for much. In a society with an age structure as top heavy as ours, children are often neglected—not by parents, but by politicians. That explains why 41 percent of the federal budget is devoted to the elderly and only 10 percent to children, according to an Urban Institute study.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation is trying to change that. Each year it examines the socioeconomic status of the nation's children and ranks their status by state—all in the hope that politicians will pay attention. The 2013 Kids Count Data Book finds the status of children improving in some areas and worsening in others. Many more children were in poverty in 2011, for example, than in 2005 (the percentage rising from 19 to 23 percent), and there were more children whose parents lack secure employment (rising from 27 to 32 percent). But fewer children were without health insurance and fewer teens were having babies.

By state, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts rank at the top in the well-being of their children. At the bottom are New Mexico, Mississippi, and Nevada. The Data Book includes details for each state, and the Kids Count Data Center has an interactive graphic. Let's hope someone is paying attention.

Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2013 Kids Count Data Book

Money Woes, At a Glance

For an interesting series of charts showing how financial worries wax and wane with age, check out Gallup's, Older Baby Boomers More Positive about Their Finances.

Inheriting the House

Among the nation's 76 homeowners, 3 million received their home as an inheritance or gift.

Source: Census Bureau, 2011 American Housing Survey

Favorite Outdoor Activities

The five most popular outdoor activities among people aged 25 or older, based on percent participating in 2012:

1. Fishing, 15.7%
2. Running, 14.9%
3. Bicycling, 12.0%
4. Hiking, 11.7%
5. Camping, 11.5%

The five most popular outdoor activities among people aged 25 or older, based on frequency of participation during 2012:

1. Running, 87.2 outings per runner
2. Bicycling, 58.4 outings per cyclist
3. Birdwatching, 40.7 outings per birdwatcher
4. Backpacking, 33.4 outings per backpacker
5. Wildlife viewing, 29.9 outings per viewer

Source: Outdoor Foundation, Outdoor Recreation Participation Topline Report

Why Life Expectancy is Declining among Less-Educated Americans

Life expectancy in the United States has been rising, but studies show the least educated Americans are not enjoying these gains. In fact, life expectancy has been declining over the past few decades among those without a high school diploma. What accounts for these divergent trends?

Most likely, adverse selection. As a larger share of the population graduated from high school and went to college, high school dropouts became less like the average American—a group increasingly comprised of those burdened with problems that lead to higher mortality rates. As recently as 1965, half of women aged 25 or older had not graduated from high school. By 2012, the figure was just 12 percent. The average American once ranked among the least educated. Today the least educated are anything but average.

Student Loan Anxiety

Fully 20 percent of Americans have student loan debt, according to a report by the Urban Institute. The proportion is as high as 40 percent among people aged 20 to 29.

Not only do student loans prevent young adults from spending on other things such as cars, houses, and restaurant meals, they create anxiety. In fact, 58 percent of 20-to-29-year-olds with student loans are worried about their ability to repay them. Do the math (58% of the 40%) and the result is a lot of young adults tossing and turning at night. No wonder Millennials are walking instead of driving, renting instead of owning, and eating at home instead of going out.

Source: Urban Institute, Forever in Your Debt: Who Has Student Loan Debt, and Who's Worried?

Household Income Stable in May 2013

Median annual household income was stable in May 2013, according to the latest monthly update from Sentier Research. The May median of $51,500 was not statistically different from the April median, after adjusting for inflation.  

Sentier's data show that median household income has yet to recover from the losses of the Great Recession. In May 2013, median household income was still 5.0 percent below the median of June 2009, the end of the Great Recession. It was 6.7 percent lower than the median in December 2007, the start of the Great Recession. It was 7.8 percent lower than the median in January 2000. 

The Household Income Index for May 2013 was 92.2 (January 2000 = 100.0). The index compares median annual household income in a given month as a percent of its value in January 2000, after adjusting for inflation. An Excel spreadsheet of the entire household income time series is available from Sentier's web site for $25.00.

Source: Sentier Research, Trends in Household Income: May 2013

Marital Events in Past Year

Number of Americans who married, divorced or were widowed in the past year...

Married: 4,240,826
Divorced: 2,394,860
Widowed: 1,417,430

Source: Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey

E-Books vs. Print Books

Three out of four Americans aged 16 or older read a book in the past 12 months, according to a Pew Internet and American Life survey. The figure peaks at 90 percent among 16-to-17-year-olds (many of whom are required to read books in high school) and bottoms out at 67 percent among people aged 65 or older.

Print still rules the book world, even in the younger age groups. Among 18-to-24-year-old book readers, 93 percent read a print book and 31 percent read an e-book in the past year. E-books are most popular among 30-to-49-year-old book readers, 41 percent having read an e-book and 85 percent a print book in the past year.

Source: Pew Internet and American Life Project, Younger Americans' Library Habits and Expectations

The Importance of Health Insurance

Ask people aged 18 to 64 how important it is to them personally to have health insurance, and fully 87 percent say it is "very important." The figure is as high as 91 percent among those who currently have insurance. Among the uninsured, 67 percent say it is very important.

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: June 2013

Jobs for College Graduates

The 10 most popular occupations for young adults who graduated from college in 2011...

1. Elementary or middle school teacher
2. Accountant and auditor
3. Registered nurse
4. Postsecondary teacher
5. Miscellaneous manager
6. Computer software engineer
7. Retail salesperson
8. Customer service representative
9. Supervisor of retail sales workers
10. Secretary or administrative assistant

How has this list changed since 2005? According to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, three occupations have dropped off the list: secondary school teacher, social worker, and lawyer. New to the list are retail salesperson, supervisor of retail workers, and secretary.

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Underemployment, College Graduates, and the Recession

How Many Have a Summer Job?

Each year in July, the labor force participation rate of the nation's youth reaches a peak. That peak has been declining, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Two decades ago, more than three-quarters of 16-to-24-year-olds were working or looking for work in the month of July. In 2012, only 60 percent were in the labor force and just 50 percent were employed.

Weekend Work

Forty-two percent of the self-employed are at work on an average weekend day, according to the 2012 American Time Use Survey. This compares with 31 percent of wage and salary workers.

Television Time at Record High

Americans spent a record amount of time watching television in 2012, according to new figures from the American Time Use Survey. The average person aged 15 or older spent 2.83 hours a day watching television as a primary activity in 2012, up from 2.57 hours per day in 2003.

The American Time Use Survey has been collecting time use data from a representative sample of the public for 10 years. During that time there has been little variation in the percentage of people who report watching television on an average day, at about 80 percent. Those who watch television, however, are reporting doing so for longer periods of time. Viewing time climbed from 3.27 hours per day in 2003 to a record high of 3.54 hours per day in 2012.

One reason for the increased screen time of television viewers is the aging of the population, with older Americans watching far more television than younger adults. Other factors include larger and higher quality television sets (HDTVs), the ability to time shift through the use of DVRs, the greater availability of content through streaming, and the practice of binge viewing.

Wealth: Crawling Out of the Hole

We are still crawling out of the sink hole of the Great Recession, which claimed a quarter of our net worth, according to an analysis by the St. Louis Fed. From the 2007 peak to the 2009 trough, the nation's aggregate net worth fell by $16 trillion—from $67.4 trillion in the third quarter of 2007 to a low of $51.4 trillion in the first quarter of 2009—a 24 percent loss. But since then, says the Fed report, aggregate net worth has recovered, climbing to $66.1 trillion by the end of 2012. Does that mean we're out of the hole?

Unfortunately, no. According to the Fed analysis, aggregate net worth is 91 percent of what it was in 2007—but that's only if you do not adjust for inflation. After adjusting for inflation, the nation's aggregate net worth is only 56 percent of what it was in 2007. After adjusting for inflation and population growth, net worth per household is only 45 percent of what it was at the peak. We're still crawling out of the hole.

Summer Vacation

Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64 percent) plan to take a summer vacation, according to a Harris Interactive survey. The most popular vacation destination is--no surprise--the beach, with 38 percent of those who plan to take a vacation going to the beach. The number two vacation destination is more surprising--a city center. Twenty-seven percent of vacationers say the downtown of a city is their vacation destination. The city is a more popular vacation destination than the countryside (23 percent), national or state park (23 percent), or theme park (21 percent).

Source: Harris Interactive, One-Third of Americans Less Likely to Travel This Summer Due to Economic Outlook

Desktop Computers, 2013

Seventy percent of Americans own a desktop computer. But ownership varies by generation—and not in the way you might think.

Percent who own a desktop computer
Millennials (18 to 35): 52%
Gen Xers (36 to 47): 69%
Boomers (48 to 66): 79%
Older (67 or older): 85%

Source: Harris Interactive, Cutting Edge Technologies Supplementing--Rather than Displacing--Older Tech, At Least for Now

Black Smartphone Ownership Soars

African Americans are much more likely to own a smartphone than any other race or Hispanic origin group, according to Pew Internet and American Life Project.

In 2013, 64 percent of blacks aged 18 or older owned a smartphone versus a smaller 53 percent of non-Hispanic whites and 60 percent of Hispanics. In the past year, African American smartphone ownership climbed 17 percentage points compared with a smaller 11 percentage point gain among both Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites.

Non-Hispanic Whites Decline in Most Counties

The non-Hispanic white population declined in most counties between 2011 and 2012, according to an analysis of Census Bureau estimates. The number of non-Hispanic whites fell in 2,201 of the nation's 3,143 counties—or 70 percent of the total. Many of the counties with fewer non-Hispanic whites are rural, sparsely settled, and losing population.

At the other extreme, North and South Dakota accounted for half of the counties with the largest percent increase in non-Hispanic whites, lured by job opportunities in the oil fields. Between 2011 and 2012, the non-Hispanic white population grew by at least 5 percent in 24 counties, and 12 of those counties were in North or South Dakota.

Not Yet Fathers

Percentage of men who have not had biological children, by age...

Aged 15 to 19: 97%
Aged 20 to 24: 85%
Aged 25 to 29: 58%
Aged 30 to 34: 38%
Aged 35 to 39: 26%
Aged 40 to 44: 24%

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Fertility of Men and Women Aged 15-44 Years in the United States: National Survey of Family Growth, 2006-2010 

2012 Births: Projected vs. Estimated

Americans had fewer babies in 2012 than the Census Bureau had projected. The bureau projected 4,209,571 births in 2012, but its population estimates through July 1, 2012 show only 3,953,593 babies were born during the previous 12 months. The estimate is short of the projection by a substantial 255,978.

The estimated number of births in every race-and-Hispanic-origin group was 5 to 7 percent less than projected. In both projections and estimates, however, births to Asians, blacks, and Hispanics accounted for just over 50 percent of the total.

Decline in Non-Hispanic Whites Under Age 65

The non-Hispanic white population will begin to decline in 2025, according to Census Bureau projections. But the decline is already occurring among non-Hispanic whites under age 65, according to Census Bureau estimates. While the total number of non-Hispanic whites in the U.S. population continued to grow between 2011 and 2012 (up by 175,965), the number of non-Hispanic whites under age 65 fell by more than 1 million...

Change in number of non-Hispanic whites by age, 2011 to 2012
Under age 65: -1,123,144
Aged 65-plus: +1,299,109

Source: Census Bureau, National Characteristics: Vintage 2012

Race and Hispanic Origin, 2012

The diversity of the American population is growing rapidly, as revealed by the Census Bureau's latest population estimates. As of July 1, 2012, only 63.0 percent of the nation's population was non-Hispanic white, down from 63.4 percent a year earlier. During those 12 months, the non-Hispanic white population grew by a minuscule 0.09 percent. This compares with a 1.3 percent increase in the black (alone or in combination) population, a 2.2 percent increase in the Hispanic population, and a 2.9 percent increase in the Asian (alone or in combination) population.

Behind the shrinking non-Hispanic white share of the population is negative natural increase. Between 2011 and 2012, for the first time, there were more deaths than births among non-Hispanic whites: 1,974,794 births and 1,987,213 deaths. Immigration was the only factor that prevented the number of non-Hispanic whites from declining. The Census Bureau projects that the number of non-Hispanic whites will begin to shrink in 2025.

Number (and percent distribution) of the population by race and Hispanic origin in 2012:
Total: 313,914,040 (100.0%)
Asian: 18,855,104 (6.0%)
Black: 44,456,009 (14.2%)
Hispanic: 53,027,708 (16.9%)
Non-Hispanic white: 197,705,655 (63.0%)

Source: Census Bureau, National Characteristics: Vintage 2012

Older Americans Don't Like Living with Children

That's a shocking statement, but it is supported by research findings: people aged 65 or older who live with children under age 18 are unhappier, angrier, more worried and stressed out than those who do not live with children under age 18--even after controlling for factors that might cause negative emotions.

In the delightfully titled study, "Grandpa and the Snapper: The Wellbeing of the Elderly Who Live with Children," NBER researchers Angus Deaton and Arthur A. Stone examine data from the Gallup Healthways Wellbeing Index. They measure the happiness, enjoyment, worry, and stress of people who live with and without children under age 18. Younger adults gain both pleasure and pain from living with children, but for the elderly it's all pain and no pleasure.

"Our evidence suggests that living with children under 18 is associated with worse outcomes on all measures," say the researchers. "None of this is to argue that some elderly do not take pleasure in their grandchildren or in the children of those with whom they live. But, on average, we can find no evidence of it."

Second Thoughts about Retirement

In the past year, 30 percent of workers aged 50-plus have changed their minds about when they plan to retire. Among those who changed their minds, 85 percent now plan to retire at an older age than before.

Source: AARP, 2013 Retirement Confidence Survey: A Secondary Analysis of the Findings from Respondents Age 50+

The Connectivity Continuum

Twenty-seven percent of Americans are highly connected to the Internet, accessing the Internet at multiple locations with multiple devices. Another 16 percent of Americans are not connected at all to the Internet, lacking any kind of computer or Internet use. These are the two extremes of what the Census Bureau calls the "connectivity continuum," with everyone else at various stages of connectivity in between (home-only connectivity, single-device connectivity, etc.).

The Census Bureau's report, Computer and Internet Use in the United States: 2011, is admittedly dated in a world of rapid technological change. But the report captures an historic moment—the transition from pre- to post-Internet age when connectivity sharply divides the population. The highly connected and the unconnected are the two largest segments of the population—or they were in 2011.

Not surprisingly, young adults are more likely to be at one extreme: 37 percent of 18-to-44-year-olds are highly-connected and only 10 to 11 percent are unconnected. The elderly are more likely to be at the other extreme: 36 percent of people aged 65 or older are unconnected and only 6 percent are highly connected. The Census Bureau also examined connectivity by state. The state with the largest percentage of highly-connected residents is Colorado (36 percent). The state with the largest percentage of unconnected residents is Mississippi (27 percent).

Tablet Ownership Soars

Thirty-four percent of American adults own a tablet computer, up from 25 percent a year ago, according to a Pew Internet and American Life survey.

Which demographic segment experienced the biggest increase in tablet ownership over the past year? Parents. Just 26 percent of parents with children under age 18 owned a tablet computer in 2012, and 50 percent own one today.

Trends in Air Conditioning

Percentage of new single-family houses sold by presence of central air conditioning...

2012: 92%
2010: 89%
2000: 87%
1990: 70%

Source: Census Bureau, Characteristics of New Single-Family Houses Sold

Debt in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut

For a peak at the finances of people in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, check out the interactive graphic on non-housing consumer debt available from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Based on data from a nationally representative sample of individuals with a Social Security number and an Equifax credit report, the graphic shows how many are in debt and the median balance of their loans by age group and type of loan (credit card, auto, student, and other) as of March 2013...

• Among 18-to-34-year-olds in New York state, 16 percent have a car loan (median balance $11,100) and 28 percent have a student loan (median balance $17,050). 
• In Connecticut, 46 percent of 35-to-49-year-olds have two or more credit cards, 32 percent have an auto loan, and 15 percent have a student loan.
• In New Jersey and Connecticut, the 13 percent of 50-to-64-year-olds with student loans have a larger median balance than any other age group ($18,950 in Connecticut and $19,950 in New Jersey).

Food Waste

Americans waste a lot of food, so much so that measuring food waste is one of the projects of the USDA's Economic Research Service. In 2010, Americans did not eat 21 percent of the food they bought measured in pounds. The biggest waste, on a percentage basis, is fish and seafood (30 percent of pounds purchased are wasted) and fresh fruit and vegetables (24 to 25 percent).

Measured in dollars, American consumers did not eat 9 percent of the food they bought. Of the $4,000 spent annually per person on food, $371 went into the garbage.

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, ERS's Food Loss Data Help Inform the Food Waste Discussion

Characteristics of New Rental Units

Studies show that many homeowners would consider renting in the future. The nation's developers are responding with skepticism. Judging from the characteristics of the 155,000 new rental units completed in 2012, builders are scaling back on amenities...

• Only 58 percent had two or more bedrooms, down from 63 percent in 2011 
• Only 46 percent had two or more complete bathrooms, down from 51 percent in 2011
• Units were a median 1,081 square feet in size, down from 1,117 square feet in 2011

Source: Census Bureau, Characteristics of Units in New Multifamily Buildings Completed

Births in 2012

The baby bust continues. The number of births in 2012 was unchanged from the number in 2011, according to provisional estimates released by the National Center for Health Statistics. In 2012, 3,958,000 babies were born, 8 percent below the all-time high of 4,316,233 in 2007.

The fertility rate (number of births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44) continues at its all-time low. The rate was 63.2 in 2012, the same as in 2011 and 9 percent below the 69.3 of 2007.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Recent Trends in Births and Fertility Rates through December 2012

Most Own a Smartphone

Most Americans own a smartphone, according to a new survey by Pew Internet and American Life Project. As of May 2013, the 56 percent majority of Americans aged 18 or older own a smartphone, up from 46 percent in 2012 and 35 percent in 2011. By age, smartphone ownership looks like this...

Aged 18 to 24: 79%
Aged 25 to 34: 81%
Aged 35 to 44: 69%
Aged 45 to 54: 55%
Aged 55 to 64: 39%
Aged 65-plus: 18%

Source: Pew Internet and American Life Project, Smartphone Ownership 2013

What Is Changing?

"Older Americans' Moral Attitudes Changing," reads the headline of a recent Gallup story. The headline is misleading, however, because the change is demographic, not psychographic.

Take the issue of premarital sex. In 2012, the 51 percent majority of 55-to-64-year-olds agreed that premarital sex was "not wrong at all," according to the General Social Survey, up from just 37 percent who felt that way In 1991. This change in attitude occurred only because everyone in the age group had been replaced by a more tolerant group of people. In 2012, the oldest baby boomers were the nation's 55-to-64-year-olds.

But the attitudes of those oldest boomers had barely changed over the two decades. In 1991, when the oldest boomers were in the 35-to-44 age group, 49 percent thought there was nothing wrong with premarital sex—nearly identical to the 51 percent who felt that way in 2012 when they were in the 55-to-64 age group.

Meanwhile, the 55-to-64-year-olds of 1991 hadn't changed their minds either. If anything, they were less tolerant of premarital sex than they had been. In 2012, now in the 75-to-84 age group, only 29 percent thought there was nothing wrong with premarital sex.

Obamacare Will Boost Self-Employment

Despite all our talk about the entrepreneurial spirit, the percentage of Americans who are self-employed is lower than in most other developed countries. The reason is our awkward system of employer-provided health insurance, which throws entrepreneurs under the bus of the private health insurance market. Studies have shown that workers are much more likely to strike out on their own if their spouse has employer-provided health insurance or when Medicare coverage kicks in at age 65.

Obamacare may change that. According to an Urban Institute study, implementation of the Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare) will boost the number of self-employed Americans by 1.5 million in 2014, an increase of nearly 12 percent. The Urban Institute's state-by-state estimates show self-employment rising by 248,000 in California and 124,000 in Texas (if the ACA is fully implemented, that is). The increase will exceed 50,000 in six other states. In Massachusetts and Vermont, no increase is forecast. That's because those states have systems similar to Obamacare already in place.

Source: Urban Institute, The Affordable Care Act: Improving Incentives for Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment

The Price of New Houses

$245,100: That is the median sales prices of the new, detached, single-family houses sold in 2012. Here is how that figure compares with median prices in the recent past (in 2012 dollars)...

• The price in 2012 was 7 percent above the $229,100 of 2000.
• The price in 2012 was 15 percent below the $288,800 of 2006 (all-time high).
• The price in 2012 was 6 percent above the $232,200 of 2009 (Great Recession low).

Source: Census Bureau, Characteristics of New Single-Family Houses Sold

Smartphones in Demographic Research

Will mobile phones transform the study of human migration? That's what researchers asked in a recent Demography article, New Approaches to Human Mobility: Using Mobile Phones for Demographic Research ($). The article describes a pilot project to test the concept of using smartphones for tracking migration. The results suggest that the study of human migration may be on the brink of radical change, and it's no surprise that a researcher from Google was one of those involved in the project.

Migration data typically come from censuses and surveys, which record where people live but not where they work or the extent of their travels on a daily basis. The mobile phone pilot project tracked volunteers for days and even weeks, examining their range of movement, the frequency with which they visited various locations, and how weekday differed from weekend traveling.

The researchers did more than plot points on a map, however. They knew the demographics of their volunteers and collected information on their subjective well-being. Every now and then, the volunteers would receive a message on their phone asking them, on a scale of 1 to 5, to rate their happiness at that moment. An intriguing finding from the (admittedly small) pilot project sample is that men's happiness declines the farther they are from home, while women's happiness is unchanged by distance. The success of this pilot project suggests that smartphones could become an important tool for demographic research in the years ahead.

How Many Grandchildren?

Most of the oldest boomers (born in 1946) have grandchildren, according to MetLife Mature Market Institute, which has been tracking this cohort for years. In 2012, fully 85 percent of the oldest boomers (who turned 66 last year) had grandchildren. Among the grandparents, the average number of grandchildren was 4.8.

For more about the oldest boomers, see The MetLife Report on the Oldest Boomers--Healthy, Retiring Rapidly and Collecting Social Security.