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Discretionary Spending Taking a Hit (Source: BIGresearch, 05/01/08)

Thunderstorms remain on the radar for the U.S. economy and consumers continue to feel the pinch.

According to the latest American Pulse Survey of 4,055 respondents, 61.7 percent are dining out less, 57.3 percent are driving less, 47.4 percent are attending fewer movies, 46.1 percent are forgoing department stores for discount retailers and 45.3 percent are cutting back on their vacation budget to cope with the current economic environment.

What is impacting consumer budgets the most (percent of those saying "very much")?

-- 67.9 percent say gas prices
-- 47.2 percent say groceries
-- 46.8 percent say home heating and cooling costs
-- 36.1 percent say taxes

One way consumers appear to be coping with pressures on the family budget is by learning a new shopping skill -- haggling for price. According to the survey, half of Americans (50.3 percent) report having negotiated for better prices on products other than a home or vehicle in light of the current economic situation.

Americans say they haggle the most for better costs on tires/batteries/auto repair (38.6 percent), followed by appliances (37.3 percent) and electronics (37.2 percent).

U.S. Hispanic Population Surpasses 45 Million
Now 15 Percent of Total

The nation’s Hispanic population increased 1.4 million to reach 45.5 million on July 1, 2007, or 15.1 percent of the estimated total U.S. population of 301.6 million.

National and state estimates by race, Hispanic origin, sex and age released today by the U.S. Census Bureau also show that the Hispanic population exceeded 500,000 in 16 states.

Hispanics remained the largest minority group, with blacks (single race or multiracial) second at 40.7 million in 2007. The black population exceeded 500,000 in 20 states. Blacks were the largest minority group in 24 states, compared with 20 states in which Hispanics were the largest minority group

Blacks were followed by Asians, who totaled 15.2 million; American Indians and Alaska Natives, who totaled 4.5 million; and Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, with 1 million. The population of whites (single race and not of Hispanic origin) totaled 199.1 million (See Table 1 [Excel]).

With a 3.3 percent increase between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, Hispanics were the fastest-growing minority group. Asians were the second fastest-growing minority group, with a 2.9 percent population increase during the period. The white population grew by 0.3 percent during the one-year period.

Overall, the nation’s minority population reached 102.5 million in 2007 — 34 percent of the total. California had a minority population of 20.9 million — 20 percent of the nation’s total, Texas had a minority population of 12.5 million — 12 percent of the U.S. total.

Four states and the District of Columbia were “majority-minority” (i.e., more than 50 percent of their population is made up of people other than single-race non-Hispanic whites). Hawaii led the nation with a population that was 75 percent minority in 2007, followed by the District of Columbia (68 percent), New Mexico (58 percent), California (57 percent) and Texas (52 percent). Next in line, though not majority-minority, were Nevada, Maryland and Georgia, each with a minority population of 42 percent (See Table 2 [Excel]).

Highlights for the various groups:

Hispanics

* California (13.2 million) had the largest Hispanic population of any state as of July 1, 2007, followed by Texas (8.6 million) and Florida (3.8 million). Texas had the largest numerical increase between 2006 and 2007 (308,000), followed by California (268,000) and Florida (131,000). In New Mexico, Hispanics comprised the highest proportion of the total population (44 percent), with California and Texas (36 percent each) next in line.
* The Hispanic population in 2007 had a median age of 27.6, compared with the population as a whole at 36.6. Almost 34 percent of the Hispanic population was younger than 18, compared with 25 percent of the total population.

Blacks

* The black population increased by 1.3 percent, or 540,000, between 2006 and 2007.
* New York had the largest black population in 2007 (3.5 million), followed by Florida and Texas (3 million each). Georgia had the largest numerical increase between 2006 and 2007 (84,000), with Texas (62,000) and Florida (48,000) next. In the District of Columbia, the black population comprised the highest percentage (56 percent); Mississippi (38 percent) and Louisiana (32 percent) were next.
* The single-race black population in 2007 had a median age of 31.1, compared with the population as a whole at 36.6. About 31 percent of the black population was younger than 18, compared with 25 percent of the total population.

Asians

* The Asian population rose by 2.9 percent, or 434,000, between 2006 and 2007.
* California (5 million) had the largest Asian population on July 1, 2007, as well as the largest numerical increase during the 2006 to 2007 period (106,000). New York (1.4 million) and Texas (915,000) followed in population. Texas (44,000) and New York (33,000) followed in numerical increase. In Hawaii, Asians made up the highest proportion of the total population (55 percent), with California (14 percent), and New Jersey and Washington (8 percent each) next.
* The single-race Asian population in 2007 had a median age of 35.4, compared with the population as a whole at 36.6.
* Asians were the largest minority group in Hawaii and Vermont.

American Indians and Alaska Natives

* The American Indian and Alaska Native population rose by 1 percent or 45,000, from 2006 to 2007.
* California (689,000) had the largest population of American Indians and Alaska Natives on July 1, 2007, with Oklahoma (394,000) and Arizona (335,000) next. Texas had the largest numerical increase (8,300) since July 1, 2006, followed by Arizona (4,900) and Florida (2,800). In Alaska, American Indians and Alaska Natives made up the highest proportion of the total population (18 percent), with Oklahoma (11 percent) and New Mexico (10 percent) next.
* The single-race American Indian and Alaska Native population in 2007 had a median age of 30.3, compared with the population as a whole at 36.6. About 27 percent of the American Indian and Alaska Native population was younger than 18, compared with 25 percent of the total population.
* American Indians and Alaska Natives were the largest minority group in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders

* The Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population rose by 1.6 percent, or 16,000, from 2006 to 2007.
* Hawaii had the largest population (269,000), followed by California (262,000) and Washington (50,000). California had the largest numerical increase (2,900) of people of this group, with Texas (2,500) and Florida (1,100) next. In Hawaii, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders comprised the largest proportion (21 percent) of the total population, followed by Utah (1 percent) and Alaska (0.9 percent).
* The single-race Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population in 2007 had a median age of 30.2, compared with the population as a whole at 36.6. About 29 percent of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population was younger than 18, compared with 25 percent of the total population.

Whites

* The non-Hispanic, single-race white population of 199.1 million represented 66 percent of the total population.
* California, New York and Texas had the largest population of this group (15.6 million, 11.6 million and 11.4 million, respectively), but Texas experienced the largest numerical increase (95,000), followed by North Carolina (92,000) and Georgia (57,000). Maine (96 percent) had the highest proportion of whites, followed by Vermont (95 percent) and West Virginia (94 percent).
* The white population in 2007 was older than the population as a whole: The respective median ages were 40.8 and 36.6. About 21 percent of the population of this group was younger than 18, compared with 25 percent of the total population.

Also released today were tabulations by age:

* Thirteen percent of the total population, 37.9 million people, was 65 and older in 2007.
* The number of people 85 and older reached 5.5 million, or 2 percent of the population.
* In 2007, working-age adults (18 to 64) totaled 189.8 million, which was 63 percent of the population.
* The number of preschoolers (younger than 5) was estimated at 20.7 million.
* The number of children 5 to 13 was 36 million, with children 14 to 17 numbering 17.2 million.
* States with the highest percentages of older people (65 and older) included Florida (17 percent), West Virginia (15.5 percent) and Pennsylvania (15.2 percent). States with the lowest percentages were Alaska (7 percent), Utah (8.8 percent) and Georgia (9.9 percent).
* States with the highest percentages of preschoolers included Utah (9.7 percent), Texas (8.3 percent) and Idaho (7.9 percent). States with the lowest percentages were Vermont (5.2 percent), Maine (5.4 percent) and New Hampshire (5.7 percent).

The American Trial Lawyer
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During the recent Mass Torts Made Perfect seminar In Las Vegas, Mike Papantonio and Keith Givens talked about The American Trial Lawyers Association and the upcoming publication, The American Trial Lawyer.

The American Trial Lawyer is the official magazine of The American Trial Lawyers Association and is poised to be one of the most talked about legal periodicals. With a contemporary approach to examining the current legal trends affecting Civil and Criminal Defense trial lawyers, The American Trial Lawyer will feature passionate and frank discussion of our nation's prevailing political and social climate and the consequential influences on our justice system.

Monthly, The American Trial Lawyer will also look at business and technological trends, significant cases and litigation, interesting personalities, as well as some humor to balance serious issues facing the trial bar today.

If you are interested in contributing to The American Trial Lawyer, contact Libby Planz, Director of Marketing and Media Relations at lplanz@us-legal.com.