US Economics Trivia

[Dr. Bob]

Odd assortment of questions and factoids about the US economy. Take a guess on each and next week I'll give the answers.

CORRECT ANSWERS are now posted at the end but you may still take the quiz and then see how you did!

[ February 06, 2006, 01:36 PM: Message edited by: Dr. Bob ]

 

[Dr. Bob]

Already seeing some trends in the "guesses" here. Wrong trends, but trends!!

 

[EdSutton]

A couple seem so strange they have got my attention.
Ed

 

[Melanie]

This quiz is so out of my ken I looked and thought no I will wait for the answers to improve my knowledge...

 

[Dr. Bob]

ANSWERS (in correct order and with YOUR choices following)

1. What is the fastest-growing FRANCHISE in the US last year?

1stSubway 25% (4)
2nd Curves 44% (7)
3rd 7-Eleven 6% (1)
5th Jan-Pro Cleaning 6% (1)
9th Liberty Tax 0% (0)
20th UPS Store 19% (3)

2. After Wal-Mart, what CORPORATION had the largest revenue last year?

1st Exxon-Mobil 44% (7)
2nd General Motors 0% (0)
3rd Ford Motors 0% (0)
10th IBM 6% (1)
11th Hewlett-Packard 0% (0)
13th Home Depot 50% (8)

3. What is the corporate TAX RATE for a business earning $100,000?

9% 0% (0)
19% 31% (5)
29% 38% (6)
39% 19% (3)
49% 12% (2)
100% 0% (0)

[note: this is horrendous and the rate goes down at $300k profit to $10 million, then down again]

4. After South Africa, what NATION produced the most Gold last year?

1st Australia 6% (1)
2nd United States 25% (4)
3rd China 0% (0)
4th Russia 31% (5)
5th Canada 6% (1)
6th Ghana 31% (5)

5. What was the busiest PORT (tonnage handled) in 2004 in the US?

1st South Louisiana, LA 6% (1)
3rd New York, NY-NJ 19% (3)
4th Long Beach/Los Angeles, CA 44% (7)
5th New Orleans, LA 12% (2)
6th Huntington, WV 0% (0)
19th Duluth, MN 19% (3)

 

[EdSutton]

OK, Doc, Where is So. Louisiana Port? Is that different from New Orleans? The way I read the 'Wiki' article, it would "INCLUDE' New Orleans and Baton Rouge, as it is a 54 mile sretch of the Mighty Mississippi.
Ed

 

[Dr. Bob]

Six major terminals SOUTH of New Orleans, mostly tied to refineries. US govt stats carefully divide it from New Orleans. And most is EXPORT tonnage from South Louisiana, as contrasted to most in NYC being IMPORT.

And massive numbers
So Louisiana had 200 million tons handled, 2-1 export
Houston 190 million, 3-1 import
NY 146 million, 7-1 import
New Orleans 85 million, 1-1
Huntington 77 million (domestic barge traffic)
LA/Long Beach 120 million, 3-1 import

 

[EdSutton]

Doc, I just have done a little more research on the Lower Mississippi. There appears to be about a 250 mile stretch of 'port' with 235 miles of 'deep draft passage' river here. And apparently there are (some) port terminals all along this stretch. I'd guess it is a lot of dredging involved, but don't know this specifically. The four ports are 'defined' as Plaquemines - LMR Milepost(s)- 0- 81.2; New Orleans - LMR MP 81.2- 114.9 and including parts of three canals through NO, the Miss Riv. Gulf Outlet, the Harvey Canal, and including the ill- fated Industrial Canal where the seawall probably first broke during Katrina; the Port of So. Louisiana - LMR MP 114.9- 168.5; and the Port of Baton Rouge - LMR MP 169.5- 253 and incl. the Baton Rouge Barge Canal, whatever that is.
The NO and BR ports leading commodity is petroleum products, So.Louisiana is grain, and Plaquemines is coal. My figures were from the US Army Corp of Engineers for the year 2000, but tonnage numbers are very similar to what you posted for the LA ports. The 'center' of Port of So. Louisiana is La Place, LA some 25 miles 'upriver' from NO.
Ed

 

[Bro. James Reed]

I knew Houston was 2nd, but I couldn't remember whether NY or Louisiana was 1st.