National Debt By emily_stacey Jan 21, 2008 Global stock markets plunge Apr 30, 2008 Federal funds rate target reduced from 2.25% to 2%, 1st quarter Dec 1, 2008 Recession in the U.S. began in December of 2007 accotding to NBER Feb 27, 2009 4th quater GDP decreased @ an annual rate of 6.2% Jul 24, 2009 Federal minimum wage increases from $6.55 to $7.25 Nov 6, 2009 Homebuyer tax credit extended and expanded Apr 20, 2010 BP massive oil spill in Gulf of Mexico Sep 20, 2010 U.S. recession ended in 2009, according to NBER Oct 15, 2010 In 2011, for 2nd year straight, there will be no inflation-based increase in Social Security benefits Jul 11, 2011 Debt problems in Europe and U.S. weigh on U.S. stocks Aug 4, 2011 Wall Street suffers worst selloff in 2 years Dec 23, 2011 Obama signs a two-month extension of the payroll taxcut Feb 8, 2012 States reached $25 billion settlement with banks over foreclosure abuses Jun 28, 2012 Supreme Court upholds health care law Oct 11, 2012 Nation's foreclosures fall to 5-year low Nov 1, 2012 Budget watchers urge the President and Congress to enact $4 trillion in savings over the next 10 years to completely address the deficit problem Saving Deficit Jun 13, 2013 Paul O'Neill refuses to compromise with V.P. Dick Cheney when it came to making decisions Leadership Deficit Aug 1, 2013 Budget reached $750 billion Budget Deficit Nov 1, 2013 U.S. recorded a trade deficit of $34252 USD million Trade Deficit