CHICAGO — Our national economy remains sluggish and the fiscal challenges in various areas of the country abound. At this writing, the U.S. unemployment rate is around 10%. When you add those “underemployed” or who have simply given up looking for work, the figure increases to 18%.
In the housing market, a record number of properties face foreclosure. Many businesses across our nation are struggling. Jobs are scarce, raises are rare, and employer-sponsored benefits such as health insurance are diminishing.
