5 charts from the past week that tell an interesting story in markets and investing.
1. US Unemployment Highest since Depression
US Unemployment Rate moves up to 14.7%.
— Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) May 8, 2020
The peak % in prior recessions…
2007-09: 10.0%
2001: 6.3%
1990-1991: 7.8%
1981-1982: 10.8%
1973-75: 9.0%
1969-70: 6.1%
1960-61: 7.1%
1957-58: 7.5%
1953-54: 6.1%
1948-49: 7.9% pic.twitter.com/5VuZB958WV
US Employment to Population Ratio falls to 51.3%, a new low. Prior low was 54.9% in 1949 (data goes back to Jan 1948). pic.twitter.com/D6pOeWgIzp
— Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) May 8, 2020
2. $25 Trillion … and Counting
US National Debt moves above $25 trillion for the first time, less than a month after hitting $24 trillion.

US National Debt as % of GDP…
— Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) May 6, 2020
1970: 35%
1975: 32%
1980: 31%
1985: 40%
1990: 52%
1995: 65%
2000: 58%
2005: 61%
2010: 87%
2015: 101%
Today: 116% pic.twitter.com/zkgJliSf93
3. Airline Travel…
When do you expect to travel via airline again?
— Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) May 5, 2020
Airline stock returns in 2020…
— Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) May 6, 2020
Southwest $LUV: -54%
JetBlue $JBLU: -57%
Alaska $ALK: -59%
Delta $DAL: -64%
American $AAL: -68%
Spirit $SAVE: -71%
United $UAL: -74% pic.twitter.com/LHfdagYbuy
4. COVID-19 Testing Increasing at Rapid Pace
US Covid-19 Tests Per Day (7-day average)…
— Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) May 5, 2020
February 29: 9
March 15: 3,312
March 31: 105,010
April 15: 146,305
April 30: 221,874
May 5: 249,772 pic.twitter.com/cM6NHsivLy
5. Global Easing
78 central banks have cut rates in 2020. 3 have hiked rates.

And that’s it for this week. Thanks for reading.
Have a great weekend everyone!
-Charlie
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