Word: billion
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...details of the Federal Government's $3 billion cash-for-clunkers program were criticized for being too complicated, and the U.S. Department of Transportation's computers were maddeningly slow to produce the necessary approvals. But the program also gave dealers and consumers a huge shot...
...many cars were sold through the program? The official total sales that were directly because of the program will be right around 700,000 units. The average incentive - based on the most recent data available - was around $4,200. If we simply divide $3 billion by $4,200, we get about 714,000 units. The original forecast for 250,000 units was based on the initial $1 billion budget for the program...
...will the economic stimulus from the program spread? The economic impact of the program is significant but short-lived. If we assume an average selling price of $25,000 for the program, and total unit sales of 700,000, the cash-for-clunkers program generated at least $17.5 billion of economic activity, not including incremental sales of additional products, such as extended warranties, alarm systems and financing revenue for the dealerships - as well as roughly $875 million in sales-tax revenue for state governments. When we add in the fiscal multiplier effect, the net impact of the program was easily...
...Kerry has also emerged as a problem solver on health care. The Obama Administration had rejected Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus' idea to tax some health-care benefits because it would raise taxes on the middle class. When Baucus' panel came up $320 billion short of paying for its proposed reforms, Kerry suggested taxing insurers that offer high-end plans - those worth more than $9,000 a year for individuals or $25,000 a year for families - in order to raise $145 billion. It was an idea that he and then New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, among others...
...Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner recently chided banks for their poor loan-modification performance: so far only 9% of the 3 million-plus at-risk mortgagees have received relief, like rate or principal reductions to reduce monthly payments, despite the federal Making Home Affordable Program. This year MHA made $75 billion available to the nation's 38 major home lenders for that express purpose. (Read "Is Florida the Sunset State...