Global credit crunch, facts and figures  
The panic in world financial markets has led to sharp falls in share prices and led to the contraction of credit
markets. BBC News looks at how key indicators around the world have moved as recession fears grow.

STOCK MARKET JITTERS














RISING COMMODITY PRICES














THE FED'S FALLING INTEREST RATES - OVER 12 MONTHS















Twelve months ago interest rates were 5.25%. By 30 January they had dropped to 3%. They are now
2.25%, as of 18 March.

FALL OF A WALL STREET GIANT
















Wall Street bank Bear Stearns collapsed when other banks lost confidence in the value of its investments in
sub-prime mortgages. It was bought by JPMorgan Chase in March.

COLLAPSING US HOUSING MARKETS
Underlying the financial market wobblies is a real decline in US house prices nationwide for the first time
since the 1930s.