In contrast to the better-than-average performance of the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, when examining the states where economic mobility is suffering, a new trend emerges: All nine of the states highlighted by Pew a underperforming against the national average fall south of the Mason Dixon line.

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"People will increasingly turn to volunteer work to lift their spirits during the economic crisis, " predicts trend analyst Kiwa Iyobe, of the New York City--based marketing consultancy Suite 2046.

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