Mr.Obama's approval ratings average just below 50 percent in recent polls, down sharply from this time last year.

VOA: standard.2010.02.09

In an area where manufacturing jobs have disappeared and the unemployment rate has risen above the national average, Mr.Obama called on Congress to pass a new job-creation bill.

VOA: standard.2010.01.22

If this conversion earns any appreciation, Mr. Average is better off keeping it and paying the tax this year.

FORBES: Roth IRA Conversion 2012: Roth Calculator for Mr. Average

It isn't enough to compare the spread to its average, Mr. Fridson says, because the average doesn't reflect the current level of default risk, the strength of the economy, the yield on government bonds or the availability of credit.

WSJ: Is It Time to Trash Junk Bonds?

In age there is nothing between them: Mr Hague's bunch average 50 (ie, 14 years older than its leader), Mr Blair's 49 (which was then eight years older than the leader).

ECONOMIST: Shadow cabinet