S&P Returns and the Remarkable Case of 2008

This is a graphic of the Standard and Poor's stock index's annual returns, placing every year since 1825 in a column of returns from -50% to +60%. As you can see, it is a rough bell curve, with 45 of those 185 years falling in the +0-10% column. There are only 5 years each in the 40-50% and 50-60% return columns, and, through 2007, there were only one year each in the -31-40% and -41-50% columns. You can see where 2008 to date falls.

Source

So there we have it. More rough seas ahead folks and no sign of recovery on the horizon. Hunker down and get ready.

reply to post by warrenb


Wow,if you look at 1927 thru to 1931 and compare us from 2000 til now it is scary indeed.Quite the fast fall compared to the 30s.Thats a scary chart.

reply to post by warrenb


Looks like good times are ahead! I mean, look at the only other year with our same returns: 1931. In 1932, the returns were -10% (obviously still not good). However, after that were some of the biggest gains ever 1933 = 60%, 1934 = -10%, 1935 = 50%, etc.

i took notice of the high points on the graph

2005 & 2007 at the tip top:
that's about the apex of the housing bubble, excessive/easy credit expansion, trillions of derivative profits were expected & in return 10's of billions in bonuses were awarded in the upper levels of execs. and the many levels of finance industry workers...

And on the war-profits front.... we should make note that Iraq 'security' by contractors was the most likely culprit of the Pentagon's 'missing' $2Trillion$ from 2003-2007


1992-'93-'94:
that's about the the time the Clinton policy
of closing then selling scores of military bases was anticipated and being planned for, by the wealth invtetor class...

Adding 100's of billion$ in tax revenue to the closed base communities,
iow, a way of creating wealth out of thin air & 'economic expansion'
(but in reality-> the padding the pockets of the big businesses elites who could profit from the base transitions....
and you thought that GWBush was the first to favor the bankster-investor class & corporations.


but, that's only the Tip of the iceberg which we are able to see, right now

[edit on 11-12-2008 by St Udio]