No Savings, no Breathing Space - Breathing Space Blog

The Commerce Department reported that the nation's savings rate in 2005 fell to a negative 0.5 percent -- meaning millions of consumers spent all they were paid and then borrowed to spend even more.

While there have been quarters in which Americans have shelled out more than they took in, this is the first time since 1933 -- the height of the Great Depression -- that consumers have done so for an entire year. No savings means no Breathing Space.