By the Numbers

“If we didn’t have Social Security, we’d have to invent it right now. It’s perfectly suited to the terrible times we’re going through. Hardly anyone has pensions anymore. People’s private savings have taken a huge hit, and home prices have been hit hard. So the private savings that so many seniors and soon-to-be seniors have counted on have just been wiped out. Social Security is still there, and it’s still paying out retirement benefits indexed to wages. It’s the one part of the retirement stool that is working.” – Roger Hickey, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future

50

Percent of Americans age 65 or older who would live in poverty without Social Security

$14,000

The average social security benefit for individuals each year

2,000

The number of stations and branches the United States Postal Service plans to close in 2011, in addition to 491 closures already underway

$8.5 billion

The net loss for the USPS in 2010

43 billion

Pieces, the decline in deliveries for the USPS in the last 5 years

19

Percent of the service’s 32,000 post offices that cover their costs

$60 million

The cost of the new football stadium being built at Allen High School in Texas

5,000

Students at Allen High School, 600 of which comprise the nation’s largest high school band

18,000

Number of seats the stadium will have

5

Rank of the new stadium among the largest in Texas

Sources: Wall Street Journal; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; New York Times