Financial Information

Score Media Reports Record Revenue and EBITDA in 2011

Industry leading sports app, ScoreMobile, achieves over 3 million
monthly unique users in peak months during the fiscal year

TORONTO , Oct. 20, 2011 /CNW/ – Score Media Inc. (TSX: SCR.TO – News) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter
and year ended August 31, 2011:

• Revenue for the year ended August 31, 2011 increased by $3.9 million to
  $47.7 million compared to $43.8 million in the year ended August 31 ,
  2010.  Revenue increased across the Company’s TV and digital media
  platforms.
• EBITDA for the year ended August 31, 2011 increased by $1.1 million , to
  $7.9 million compared to $6.8 million in the prior year (excluding the
  impact of the $0.8 million CRTC Part II fee reversal in fiscal 2010)
• Fourth quarter revenue increased by $1.1 million to $11.6 million
  compared to บ.5 million in the prior year.  Fourth quarter EBITDA was
  $1.9 million compared to $1.4 million in the prior year.

“2011 was a great year for Score Media” says John Levy , Chairman & CEO,
Score Media Inc.  “theScore Television Network had its strongest year
ever and our digital platforms have experienced explosive growth with
ScoreMobile now ranking as one of the top three sports apps in North
America . ”

• On September 16 ^th, 2010, Score Media Ventures acquired 20% of NuLayer Inc. (“NuLayer”), a
  mobile and web development firm. The deal with NuLayer, creators of
  theScore iPad Edition, brings increased technology development
  capabilities to Score Media.
• Effective January 2011 , Score Media and WWE expanded their partnership
  with a multi-year agreement. The deal builds on Score Media and WWE’s
  existing television relationship to include online, mobile and VOD
  rights. In addition, theScore and WWE are working together to bring new
  original WWE content to Canadians across all platforms.
• On May 12 ^th, 2011, the Company acquired SportsTap, a US based mobile sports
  application. The combined monthly audience of ScoreMobile and SportsTap
  ranks 3rd behind the mobile sports applications of ESPN and Yahoo!,
  ahead of competitors FOX and CBS according to comScore’s MobiLens™ May
  2011 ranking of mobile sports application audiences in the United
  States .
• theScore Fighting Series hosted Mississauga’s first mixed martial arts
  event on June 10 ^th, 2011. The card took place at The Hershey Centre and the main event
  pitted top Canadian prospect Jordan Mein against Dream Welterweight
  Champion Marius Zaromskis.
• On Juneಞ ^th, 2011, the Company announced the launch of the Spanish edition of
  ScoreMobile FC
• On July 5 ^th, 썛, the Company announced the launch of an optimized application for
  the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet providing sports fans with access to
  real-time scores, stats, news, live blogs and original video
• In Fiscal 2011 the ScoreMobile group of applications achieved over three
  million monthly unique users and delivered over 170 million page views
  in peak months

About Score Media Inc.

Score Media is a media company committed to delivering interactive and
authentic sports entertainment.  Score Media’s primary asset, theScore
Television Network (“theScore”), is a national specialty television
service providing sports news, information, highlights and live event
programming in more than 6.8 million homes across Canada.  The
Company’s digital media assets include theScore.com and the industry
leading mobile sports applications ScoreMobile, ScoreMobile FC and
SportsTap which reach over three million unique users per month. 
Growing from a team of 60 in 1997 to over 280 employees in 2011, Score
Media is a revolutionizing interactive media company.

Forward-looking (safe harbour) statement

Statements made in this news release that relate to future plans, events
or performances are forward-looking statements.  Any statement
containing words such as “believes”, “plans”, “expects” or “intends”
and other statements which are not historical facts contained in this
release are forward-looking, and these statements involve risks and
uncertainties and are based on current expectations.  Consequently,
actual results could differ materially from the expectations expressed
in these forward-looking statements.

FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

The following tables reconcile net income to EBITDA:

The following selected quarterly financial data of the Corporation
relates to the eight quarters ended August 31, 2011 .

The Company’s revenues have historically reflected a seasonality trend,
with the third quarter (ending May 31 ^st) being the strongest, followed by the first quarter (ending November 30 ^th), the fourth quarter (ending August 31 ^st), and finally the second quarter (ending February 28 ^th). This seasonality reflects general trends for sports media
advertising, which in turn reflects the schedules (particularly the
playoffs) of the major North American sports leagues.

This article courtesy of Score Media Reports Record Revenue and EBITDA in 2011

Experian’s Second-annual State of Credit Study Reveals Midwesterners Most Mindful of Their Money and Southerners …

COSTA MESA, Calif., Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Experian®, the leading global information services company, today released its second-annual State of Credit list of cities with the highest and lowest credit scores. Wausau, Wis. topped the list with the highest credit score of 789, unseating Minneapolis, Minn. from the number one spot after a four-year reign. At the bottom of the spectrum were Harlingen, Texas, Jackson, Miss. and Corpus Christi, Texas. The complete list, along with credit education tips and information for consumers, is available at livecreditsmart.com.

“As our nation struggles to regain its footing amid this crushing economic recession, we want to do all that we can to educate American consumers about how to improve their financial standing,” said Maxine Sweet, Experian vice president of public education. “This nationwide credit assessment sheds light on the cities most affected by low credit scores and provides insight into the successes and challenges various regions have faced. We see this as an opportunity to help consumers better understand how credit works so they can make informed, responsible decisions — in other words, live credit smart.”

Compared with last year’s State of Credit assessment, many cities have improved, albeit by slim margins. Five out of 10 of the bottom markets have increased their credit scores and decreased debt since 2010. However, average debt nationwide has only decreased by about 1 percent — it is down about $200 to $24,542— indicating that those working to improve their debt-to-credit ratio are having difficulty making progress. A low debt-to-credit ratio is an important element of a high credit score.

While no one factor determines a consumer’s credit score, the fallout of a weakened economy continues to contribute to major setbacks such as foreclosures and unemployment. Naturally, these factors were drivers in the rankings and trends for different regions of the country.

“We’ve all heard the latest news — bankruptcy rates are up, mortgage delinquencies are rising and people are still losing their homes,” said Michele Raneri, Experian vice president of analytics. “Experian’s State of Credit data shows that we still have a long way to go toward economic prosperity but that many consumers are taking small steps toward improving their credit and debt management.”

A few areas stand out from the rest. Wisconsin residents remain among the nation’s most fiscally responsible, with four of the top 10 ranking cities positioned solidly in the upper 700 credit score ratings (based on the VantageScore® 501–990 scoring range). In contrast, many others are struggling with credit and the housing crisis, including Las Vegas, Nev. residents who ranked within the bottom 10 regional credit scores for the past three years.

Credit scoring translates the information in an individual’s credit report into a simple number that is one factor lenders use to evaluate the level of risk involved in extending credit. Not only does a credit score make a difference when it comes to gaining access to credit, it also affects the interest rate a consumer pays when borrowing, thus a good credit score yields financial benefits over the long term.

Below is a snapshot of the 10 cities with the highest average credit scores and the 10 cities with the lowest average credit scores in the U.S. (scores are rounded to the nearest whole number).

Cities with the highest credit scores:

1. Wausau, Wis.: 789
2. Minneapolis, Minn.: 7ȷ
3. Madison, Wis.: 785
4. Cedar Rapids, Iowa: 781
5. San Francisco, Calif.: 781
6. Green Bay, Wis.: 780
7. Boston, Mass.: 779
8. Peoria, Ill.: 778
9. Sioux Falls, S.D.: 778
10. La Crosse, Wis.: 777

Experian’s call to action
Cities with the lowest credit scores:

1. Harlingen, Texas: 686
2. Jackson, Miss.: 701
3. Corpus Christi, Texas: 702
4. Monroe, La.: 706
5. Shreveport, La.: 706
6. Augusta, Ga.: 709
7. Bakersfield, Calif.: 709
8. Las Vegas, Nev.: 709
9. Tyler, Texas: 710
10. El Paso, Texas: 710

In looking at these scores and trends, there are still myriad financial challenges consumers need assistance navigating. To deepen its more than 30-year commitment to consumer education, Experian will be implementing a series of educational programs late this year and in early 2012 that will provide resources and tools to help consumers improve their financial health.

In addition, Experian’s CreditReport.com™ is sponsoring the Secret Millionaires Club “Learn and Earn” promotion, a financial education program featuring Warren Buffett who teaches a group of kids smart financial habits they can start at a young age.

To see the complete list of cities and credit scores, and to learn more about building and maintaining a strong credit history, please visit livecreditsmart.com.

Analysis methodology

This analysis is based on a statistically relevant sampling of Experian’s consumer credit database. Analyzed credit files did not contain personal identification information. Credit scores for the State of Credit report were based on the average VantageScore by designated market area from January through June 2011.

About VantageScore

VantageScore, which is used by lenders and is now available to consumers, is the first credit score developed cooperatively by Experian and the other national credit reporting companies. With VantageScore, consumer scores fall within a range of 501 to 990 and the scale also approximates the familiar academic scale, making it simple to associate your VantageScore number with a letter grade. For more information, visit http://www.experian.com/consumer-products/vantage-score.html.

About Experian

Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 80 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE絤 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 March񎧛 was $4.2 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 41 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

VantageScore® is owned by VantageScore Solutions, LLC.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

Maxine Sweet

https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=73702

Contact:

Christie Jackson
Edelman for Experian
323-202-1039
christie.jackson@edelman.com

This article courtesy of Experian’s Second-annual State of Credit Study Reveals Midwesterners Most Mindful of Their Money and Southerners …

Experian Announces the Experian Credit Educator(SM) Service, Making it the Only Credit Reporting Agency to Offer …

COSTA MESA, Calif., Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Experian®, the leading global information services company, today announced Experian Credit Educator(SM), a dedicated consumer-education service that is now available to consumers. Experian’s lending clients — such as banks, mortgage companies and credit unions — also can offer it to their customers as a valuable benefit.

“The economic recession has significantly changed consumer awareness and attitudes toward credit and we found that consumers were asking Experian for assistance in taking a more active role in understanding their credit. The Credit Educator program is our response to this consumer request and provides a dedicated one-on-one focus on credit education to increase dialogue and provide personalized tips for maintaining a healthy credit profile,” said Andrew Sheehan, senior vice president, Consumer Information Services, Experian. “Our clients see this trend for credit knowledge growing as well and are looking to education as a way to improve customer loyalty, while providing an added-value to their customers.”

The Experian Credit Educator service provides a private, telephone-based session conducted by a trained, U.S.-based agent. The consumer receives a copy of his or her Experian credit report and VantageScore®, the industry’s first credit score developed jointly by the three national credit reporting companies. During the session, the Experian Credit Educator agent will provide a detailed review of each section of the consumer’s credit report, how credit works, how items affect the credit score, an explanation of the VantageScore and score factors, national and regional score averages and guidance for maintaining a healthy credit profile.

Experian is equipped to provide credit education in multiple capacities:

To gauge consumers’ receptiveness to receiving credit education, Experian launched a pilot program earlier in the year that comprised consumers from several of Experian’s utility clients. Exit surveys were conducted, and the results showed that more than 96 percent of respondents indicated they were likely or very likely to act on the knowledge they received and/or would change how they use credit. Additionally, 98 percent of the consumers found the service “helpful” in understanding credit and how it impacts them. Below are examples of consumers’ comments:

• “I now feel like I know what I need to do to get where I want to be with my credit score.”
• “The person I worked with was extremely helpful, understanding and well versed in her field. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to know more about credit.”

Experian currently provides consumer credit and identity theft services to more than 10 million subscribers; assists millions of consumers annually with disputes, fraud alerts and credit-related questions. Experian has years of expertise and firsthand insight into the types of questions consumers have about credit. The service is an extension of this infrastructure and creates an even more robust component of credit education.

About Experian

Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 80 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2011 was $4.2 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 41 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and São Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

VantageScore® is owned by VantageScore Solutions, LLC.

Contact:
Kristine Snyder  
Experian Public Relations
1 714 ᗾ 5192
kristine.snyder@experian.com

This article courtesy of Experian Announces the Experian Credit Educator(SM) Service, Making it the Only Credit Reporting Agency to Offer …

New Vehicle Loans for Subprime Consumers Increase by 22.4 Percent in Q2 2011, According to Experian Automotive

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Experian Automotive today announced that lenders continued to increase their appetite for risk in Q2 2011, with new vehicle loans for customers with credit outside of prime increasing by 22.4 percent, when compared to the previous year. In Q2 2011, 22.29 percent of all new vehicle loans went to customers in the non-prime, subprime and deep subprime categories, increasing from 18.21 percent in ̬ 2010.

The largest percentage increase in new car loans was in the category with the highest risk, deep subprime, which jumped 44.1 percent, moving from 1.48 percent of all new vehicle loans in Q2 2010 to 2.13 percent in Q2 2011.

Additional findings from the Q2 automotive credit trends report show that the average customer credit score for both new and used vehicle loans dropped by 10 and eight points, respectively. For new vehicle loans, the average fell from 772 in Q2 썚 to 762 in Q2 2011. For used vehicle loans, the average fell from 679 in Q2 2010 to 671 in Q2 2011.

“Even with a tepid economic recovery in the first half of the year, automotive lenders were willing to increase their level of risk,” said Melinda Zabritski, director of automotive credit for Experian Automotive. “This was good news for automotive manufacturers, as nearly half of all consumers fall into non-prime, subprime and deep subprime risk categories. Providing loans to these risk tiers opens the market to significantly more prospects.”

The total dollar volume of automotive loans that were 30- or 60-days delinquent dropped from nearly $21 billion in Q2 2010 to $16.9 billion in Q2 2011. Thirty-day delinquencies dropped by 10.39 percent from 2.89 percent in Q2 2010 to 2.59 percent in Q2 2011. Sixty-day delinquencies dropped by 14.46 percent, from 0.71 percent in Q2 2010 to 0.6 percent in Q2 2011.

In other findings:

• Quarterly repossession rates dropped by 4.2 percent, from 0.62 percent in Q1 2010 to 0.59 percent in Q2 2011
• The average loan amount for a new vehicle was up $17, from $25,223 in ̬ 2010 to $25,240 in Q2 2011
• The average loan amount for a used vehicle jumped $476, from $16,586 in Q2 2ዊ to $17,062 in Q2 2011

Experian Automotive’s quarterly credit trend analysis features market reporting data and analysis from Experian Automotive’s AutoCount® Risk Report, which analyzes automotive lending markets based on a uniform measurement of credit quality that segments markets by geography, credit score and vehicle registrations, among other factors.

For more information on Experian Automotive’s AutoCount Risk Report, visit https://www.autocount.com. It also incorporates data from the Experian–Oliver Wyman Market Intelligence Reports, which provide topical, quarterly analysis; peer benchmarking options; and commentary on key issues facing the financial services industry. To subscribe to the Experian–Oliver Wyman Market Intelligence Reports, go to http://www.marketintelligencereports.com. VantageScore®, a tri-bureau credit score, was used to provide average risk scores for the population segments.

About Experian Automotive

Experian Automotive is a leader in providing information services and market intelligence to manufacturers, dealers, finance, insurance and aftermarket companies, helping them increase customer loyalty; target and win new business and make better lending, purchasing and production decisions. Experian’s AutoCheck reports provide customers with in-depth vehicle history information to confidently understand, compare and select the right vehicle. Its North American Vehicle DatabaseSM houses more than 650 million vehicles and, when combined with Experian’s credit, consumer and business information assets, meets the industry’s growing demand for an integrated information source. Experian technology supports top automotive businesses, including eBay Motors, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Affinia, CarMax and NADAguides.com. For more information on Experian Automotive and its suite of services, visit our Website at http://www.experianautomotive.com.

About Experian

Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 80 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2011, was $4.2 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 41 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; Costa Mesa, California; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

VantageScore® is owned by VantageScore Solutions, LLC.

Contact:
Roslyn Whitehurst
Experian Public Relations
1 714 830 5578
roslyn.whitehurst@experian.com

This article courtesy of New Vehicle Loans for Subprime Consumers Increase by Ƕ.4 Percent in Q2 2011, According to Experian Automotive

Credit Unions More Consumer Friendly Than Banks, Credit Power Index Shows

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
TheStreet (Nasdaq:TST – News), a leading digital media company, released the
July Credit Power Index (TM) that shows credit unions are offering
better deposit rates and squeezing consumers considerably less than
banks.

The Credit Power Index, produced jointly by TheStreet’s Rate-Watch
and MainStreet
divisions, measures the “squeeze” on consumers in terms of the
difference between the interest rates paid on deposits versus the
interest rates charged on loans. This spread is 5.5 percentage points
lower at credit unions than at banks, which are paying much less in
interest on CDs and other savings accounts.

Credit unions, for example, are offering an average rate of 0.73% on
12-month certificates of deposit, more than 55% higher than the national
average of rates offered by banks, according to Rate-Watch data used to
compile the Credit Power Index. Rate-Watch maintains the world’s largest
database of rates from more than 90,000 financial locations across the
U.S.

The Credit Power Index score for credit unions came in at 17.55 in July,
almost 5.5 percentage points lower than the score for banks. The overall
index stood at 22.44, a small improvement from 22.51 the preceding month
as improvements in the interest rate climate for consumers started to
slow.

“Interest rates haven’t found a bottom yet, but improvements are
definitely starting to slow,” said Rate-Watch General Manager Rachelle
Zorn. “Anyone looking to borrow money will be able to lock in some very
low rates right now.�

The Credit Power Index assesses the interest rate climate for consumers
by tracking deposit and consumer loan product rates, using the
methodology found here http://www.mainstreet.com/article/moneyinvesting/credit/debt/how-credit-power-index-works.
The index measures differences between CD rates at four terms and the
rates of four popular loan products at the same terms; the higher the
index, the worse things are for consumers. The index peaked at 25ሦ in
May 2009 and has declined every month in񎧛.

Credit unions beat banks on most of the loan rates used in calculating
the Credit Power Index, including personal unsecured loans (charging
10.49% to 12.54% at banks), 36-month home equity loans (5.61% at credit
unions, 6.75% at banks) and 48-month new auto loans (3.68% at credit
unions, 4.72% at banks).

Banks, however, have an advantage when it comes to mortgage rates,
charging a 3.32% APR on 60-month adjustable rate mortgages to the credit
unions’ 3.77%.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The full Credit Power Index database is
available at www.mainstreet.com/credit-power

About Rate-Watch

One of the nation’s largest providers of accurate, up-to-date rate
information, this web site, www.rate-watch.com,
is relied upon by countless banks and credit unions, providing key data
so they can set competitive rates.

About MainStreet

MainStreet provides personal finance tips and advice to help consumers
grow their wealth and enhance their lives. By combining lifestyle news,
commentary and financial resources, MainStreet is an engaging and fun
site “where life and money intersect.”

About TheStreet

TheStreet, Inc. is a leading digital financial media company that
distributes its content through online, social media, tablet and mobile
channels. The Company’s network of brands include: TheStreet, RealMoney
Pro, Stockpickr, Action Alerts PLUS, ChatOnTheStreet, Options Profits,
ETF Profits, MainStreet and Rate-Watch. For more information
on TheStreet’s business, visit www.t.st.
For financial and business news, actionable trading ideas, stock quotes
and more, visit TheStreet.com
via your web browser, follow TheStreet on Facebook
and Twitter,
visit TheStreet.mobi
from your mobile device and access TheStreet
app for iPad or the browsers on all major tablet platforms.

TheStreet, Inc.
Cindy Sperling, 212-321-5008
Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations
cindy.sperling@thestreet.com
or
Sapphire Investor Relations, LLC
Paul Cox or Erica Mannion, 212-766-1800 Ext. 204
Investor Relations
ir@thestreet.com

This article courtesy of Credit Unions More Consumer Friendly Than Banks, Credit Power Index Shows

Do Americans Still Love Credit Cards?

Learning from the latest economic crisis, regulators have been trying to swap the credit card swiping trend with alternative payment methods and prompting consumers to reduce their credit card debts. Consequently, a declining trend of credit card usage has been witnessed in recent years.

But does this imply that the Americans’ love for plastic credit is slowly dying out? A closer look into the underlying data might reveal that the US still moves on credit cards and that these remain a major economic force.       � 

According to a report released last Friday by credit reporting agency Experian, the average credit card debt decreased 4% to about $4,200 in 2010 from $4,467 in the prior year. However, for several cities, the average credit card debt is much higher than the national level.

Cities More in Love

The agency has identified 25 metros where the average credit card debt is very high; even than the national level. Most of these cities are located in the South.
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DailyMarkets.com Launches Mobile Version of Website to Help Consumers Save Smart, Invest Smart

This article courtesy of DailyMarkets.com Launches Mobile Version of Website to Help Consumers Save Smart, Invest Smart

Freecreditscore.com Honored With NAMM’s ‘Wanna Play?’ Award

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Recognized by the familiar vocal jingles about credit score stories, freecreditscore.com™ was one of nine brands outside the music industry honored with a “Wanna Play?” Award at the annual NAMM award show on Sunday, Jan. 16 in Anaheim, Calif. The award is presented annually to companies and organizations whose ads inspire people to be musically inclined. This is the second time in three years that the parent company, ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., has been chosen.

Freecreditscore.com received the “Wanna Play?” Award for its “Check It” commercial because of its fun, energetic and positive branding. As the trade association of the international music product industry, NAMM recognizes companies that have encouraged people to pursue their passion for playing an instrument through their promotion of products or initiatives.

“Incorporating music into the freecreditscore.com commercials has resonated with our clients,” said Mike Dean, president of Experian Consumer Direct. “We are thrilled to receive this recognition and will continue to leverage the power of music in our advertising as it brings fun and practical ways of helping customers solve the mystery behind their credit scores.”
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Experian Consumer Direct Unveils New TV Advertisements Depicting Real Financial Challenges of Americans

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Experian Consumer Direct has unveiled a new advertising campaign designed around the emotional realities and credit struggles that Americans face daily.

Created by The Martin Agency, the new ads will appear nationwide and will run on national cable networks. The 30-second spots portray the realities faced by many Americans whose credit has been affected by recent economic issues or other life circumstances, and they connect to the emotion of the situation by showing that consumers are more than just their numerical credit score.

“We’ve listened to our clients and understand the challenges they face every day in regard to credit and managing or controlling their finances,” said Mike Dean, president of Experian Consumer Direct. “Products such as CreditReport.com have resources and information available to help people understand their credit, which is an important element of financial health.”

For more information, visit http://www.creditreport.com.

To view the new advertisements online, visit http://bit.ly/ead6xS.

About CreditReport.com™

CreditReport.com™ is part of a family of online consumer credit reporting sites belonging to ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., an Experian company. ConsumerInfo was founded in 1995 to give consumers quick, easy and inexpensive access to their credit profile. It is the leading provider of online consumer credit reports, credit scores, credit monitoring and other credit-related information. ConsumerInfo provides credit monitoring to its more than 3.1 million members and has delivered more than 20 million credit reports on the Web. As part of the Experian family, it continues to grow its membership base and develop innovative products to help consumers better understand their credit.

Freecreditscore.com™ and freecreditreport.com® are part of a family of products from Experian that help consumers monitor and manage their personal finances.
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The (Employment) Score at Halftime

Two years ago, Obama took the oath of office. This seems like a good time to assess his presidency in terms of the economy and see how he stacks up relative to other recent presidents. Clearly Obama took charge during a difficult time for the economy, probably more challenging than any other recent president with the possible exception of Ronald Reagan. However the economic challenges facing Obama were certainly much different than those facing Reagan. In some senses it is impossible to be totally fair to any president in looking at his performance relative to other presidents since they all were in office under different circumstances. It is also true that no one can swim in the same river twice, even if you do visit your favorite swimming hole along its shores on a regular basis. Still, to assess any performance, one has to compare it to something, and other recent presidents seem like a reasonable exercise.

First, let’s take a look at employment. The data in the table below shows four measures of the employment picture. The change in total employment, the change in private sector employment, the percent change in the unemployment rate (i.e. going from 5% unemployment to 6% unemployment shows up as a 20% increase) and the change in the percentage of the population that is actually working. This is called either the employment-population ratio (Empop) or the employment rate. One of the things that Obama has been most criticized for is failure to focus on jobs and to get the economy moving again. How fair is the criticism?

Well if we use the February data just after the inauguration as the starting point (the data is collected mid month, so the January data would be conditions under his predecessor), Obama lands smack in the middle of the most recent five presidents in terms of the percentage change in total employment. In each case the end point is the December following the mid term election. Yes, the number of jobs in the economy has declined since Obama took office, but under G.W. Bush, and especially under Reagan, the total number of jobs had fallen by more at the same point in their presidencies. If one wants to exclude government jobs, and just look at private sector employment, the ranking is unchanged, but GW Bush looks worse than Reagan. Clearly the job performance has not been as good as under Clinton, or even under GHW Bush, but Obama has clearly done a better job at creating jobs, or to be more precise, a less worse job at losing jobs than either his immediate predecessor or Reagan.
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