The Value of Your Dollar in Today's Economy

With our economy in potential crisis mode. The current value of a dollar is not what it has used to be in past years. As times continue to get more tough, the value of our dollar declines. Here's something to think about: What was the value of a dollar approximately one year ago today, What was the price or a gallon of gas one year ago today, How much did a loaf of bread cost, ? These are some common questions which people may be asking themselves these days with our current economic situation.

If we look back as a country, the USA a year ago, some states had gas prices at the pump of over $3.00 a gallon. Today, gas varies from $1.80 & up, with prices slowly on the rise again. We ask ourselves why the decrease, and most of us applaud the decrease, but do we truly sit down and realize that our economy is slowly declining, and with a slowly declining economy people just cannot afford what they could a year ago. The example of the decrease in gas price just proves that the cost of petroleum has decreased, and will increase again when oil companies decide to increase the cost of petroleum. Last year, a barrel of oil had cost anywhere around $140.00 a barrel, & now is about $40.00 a barrel.

Major retailers such as Circuit City have announced that they are closing their large retail stores due to decline of sales. So with that in mind that just proves that the consumer does not have the same amount of money available to use on luxury items. Other major retailers, such as Barbara Moss, have closed down many of their stores reducing the amount of revenue brought to the companies. Some car companies, have turned to the government to ask for assistance in order to keep their companies running abroad with hope of increase in sales by producing more fuel efficient vehicles to accommodate today's consumer. Major trucking firms, have decreased the amount of vehicles used for deliveries, to cut fuel costs, & highway tolls which companies have to pay. With this in mind, it effects major retailers like Walmart in receiving materials needed to stock their shelves.

In our grocery stores, a loaf of bread has gone up anywhere from $0.40 to $0.80 a loaf. Milk from about $3.00 a gallon to $3.50 a gallon depending on where you live. Wheat, and some other grains have also felt a huge impact with the economy in the condition it is in. Just everything in your grocery store has went up drastically.

As all of this fills our minds, and effects our lives on a daily basis, we can only ask ourselves, just how much more is to come. Not only are the prices of things changing, but the paycheck is changing as this current recession progresses. If you are fortunate enough to have a decent paying job, or even a job at all as our economy continues to slowly diminish, & many more head to the unemployment line as companies continue to cut costs, & close shop.

Looking at all of these, are some prime examples of the current economic situations present, it shows just how far the dollar is actually going nowadays in our economy. Not too far at all. President Obama has current talks about another stimulus payment to help restructure our economy, and give it the nudge to hopefully turn it towards some major improvements, but we can only hope that is what we see as our future relies on positive progression from this current recession.