Wednesday, September 18, 2013

COTW: The American Pie

US Person thinks his readers may be tiring of his message that the US economy is rigged for the corporate rich. But given that the corporate mass media is dedicated to denying this fact, and make you feel good about it, here is yet another chart showing just how skewed the US economy has become:

credit: John Hussman via ZeroHedge
Corporate profits after tax have reached a post-war high of over 10% (blue line). Historically, profits have averaged 6% of GDP over the last 66 years. The Wall Street casino is at an all-time high with PE ratios at 1929 crash levels, but the workforce participation rate is the lowest in 35 years. Corporate profits are growing at a robust rate (red line), but real median household income is at 1990 levels. Wall Street banks are even bigger than before the 2008 Panic.  The richest 400 Americans have more money than the annual GDP of Mexico, Italy or Canada.  The top 10% income earners claimed a record 48.2% of the nation's income last year!  Cut us a brake, Mr. Current Occupant. And from the department of American Exceptionalism comes this chart: