How Much Is $700 Billion Anyway?

The proposed financial bailout package being considered by lawmakers will come at a cost of as much as $700 billion.

To put it in perspective, using numbers from the U.S. Census, the $700 billion is equal to:

• About $2,300 per American
• About $6,000 per U.S. household
• About 85 percent of the New York State economy
• The combined economies of all U.S. states beginning with the letter "A": Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, and Arkansas; plus Oklahoma.

The tally for all the various rescue measures launched by U.S. authorities this year runs to about $1.8 trillion. The $1.8 trillion is equal to:

• About $6,000 per American
• About $15,500 per U.S. household

Source: Reuters News (09/21/2008)