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State of the Union

64.5 Consumer Confidence Index for March, as measured by The Conference Board. It's the lowest measurement in five years, down from 76.4 in February. $4 TRILLION Projected total health care spending by 2017, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That's double the amount spent right now, and 21% of the Gross Domestic Product. 12% Percentage of consumers who have started shopping

64.5

Consumer Confidence Index for March, as measured by The Conference Board. It's the lowest measurement in five years, down from 76.4 in February.

$4 TRILLION

Projected total health care spending by 2017, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That's double the amount spent right now, and 21% of the Gross Domestic Product.

12%

Percentage of consumers who have started shopping at cheaper grocery stores, according to a survey by Citigroup Global Markets.

1,500

Number of Lone Star Steakhouse employees who recently lost their jobs after the chain had to close 27 of its 179 stores.

47%

Percentage of consumers who say they're spending less to make up for high gas prices, according to TNS Retail Forward.

$3.343

Average cost of a gallon of gas in a recent report by American Automobile Association.

$2.792

Average cost of the same gallon a year ago.

37%

Percentage of people who said they will increase their use of coupons during a recession, according to a survey commissioned by RetailMeNot, an online coupon provider.