It's not often we get to talk about a "hint" of good news with today's market woes, struggling households and a heated election however I wanted to point out two points that have or soon will be helping the average Joe get through this unprecedented year.

First, in case you haven't noticed the price of gasoline has come down from a high in Missouri of $3.99 a gallon to $2.59. So if you have a automobile with a 17 gallon tank (standard on some auto's) then you will notice a savings of $23.80 every time you visit the pump. Crude it an all time high this year at $147.27 a barrel and now stands at $68.97 ($78.30 decrease!) Most of this due to a stronger dollar, weakening demand, and struggling world economy.

Second, it seems the "bail out" bill may be finally trickling into the financial market sector in which it was intended. We have seen overnight lending rates between banks fall, we have seen more confidence in bonds and in particular Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS). This has helped mortgage rates come down .875% to 6.0% currently on a 30 year fixed. On a $140K loan that's a monthly savings of $79.32!

I truly believe this "bail out" money will end up in the right places doing the right things to help the broad economy. The question is at what price and what will be the end implications of such a move and the continued moves by the U.S. government. But at least we have seen some changes "leak" into our everyday lives that should assist us in getting through the 2008 year and well into 2009. This is going to be a slow paced change and it will take some time to recover however, it seems we are at least started down the right path. Let's just hope we don't come to a "T" and take a left when we should have taken a right.

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