Using Bureau of Economic Analysis data, my associate Jonathan Robe calculated real growth rates in per capita income in the 50 states from 1980 through 2009.

FORBES: Reducing State Higher Ed Spending Is Not Foolhardy

In a detailed analysis comparing diesel and gas versions of the same models, Vincentric calculated the cost of ownership over five years, assuming 15, 000 miles of driving annually.

FORBES: Do Diesel Cars And Trucks Save You Money? Not Always

To determine the average amount consumers might pay to keep their new cars in operating condition, we used 2008 repair estimates calculated over a five-year period by Vincentric, an auto-industry data-analysis company.

FORBES