Does the weak recovery feel more like a recession to you?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The worst recession since the Great Depression may have ended more than two years ago, but millions of Americans aren't feeling much relief.
The Wall Street Journal highlights some sobering economic statistics that explain why this achingly slow recovery feels more like a recession.
For starters, people are making less money:
The income of the median household - which fell about 3 percent during the recession - has dropped another 7 percent since the recession ended.
It's estimated the income of the typical American household - adjusted for inflation - has fallen well below the January 2000 level.
Then there are the jobs: the national unemployment rate remains stubbornly above 9 percent, and almost half the unemployed have been out of work for at least six months.
And having an education doesn't necessarily help. Research shows that since 2009, median incomes of households led by high school graduates, those with two-year degrees and those with bachelor's degrees all fell.
As for the housing market, it still hasn't rebounded: one in five mortgage holders has a loan bigger than the value of their home.
And a new report out suggests the housing market has even further to fall... with home prices headed for a triple-dip. It says by next June home values will have dropped to a new low of 35 percent below the peak reached in early 2006.
One recent poll shows only 1 in 5 Americans think the economy will improve in the next 12 months.
Here's my question to you: Does the weak recovery feel more like a recession to you?
Tune in to "The Situation Room" at 5 p.m. ET to see if Jack reads your answer on the air.
And we'd love to know where you're writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
Should smokers and fat people pay more for health care?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Smokers and fat Americans could soon be paying a lot more for their health care.
Reuters reports a growing number of companies are raising health care costs for so-called unhealthy employees.
Translation: people who don't quit smoking, lose weight or lower their cholesterol.
In the past few years, many employers have been trying to get workers to voluntarily improve their health to help bring down soaring insurance costs. They've introduced weight loss programs or classes to help people stop smoking.
But not enough employees have signed up or improved their health. So instead, companies are now going to start making these employees pay more.
One recent survey shows the use of penalties is expected to climb next year to include almost 40% of large and medium-sized companies. That's up from 19% this year and only 8% in 2009.
Penalties include higher insurance premiums and deductibles for those who aren't participating in the company's health programs – and those engaged in risky health behavior, like smoking.
Wal-Mart, which insures more than 1 million people, is one such company. It says smokers consume about 25% more health care services than nonsmokers.
Starting next year, Wal-Mart will charge employees who smoke higher premiums, along with offering a free program to help them quit.
Critics worry these kinds of penalties will hurt poor people the most, since health care costs consume a bigger part of their income and they may not have as much access to gyms or fresh food.
Here's my question to you: Should smokers and fat people pay more for health care?
Tune in to "The Situation Room" at 4 p.m. ET to see if Jack reads your answer on the air.
And we'd love to know where you're writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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