U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for May 17

WASHINGTON, May 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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TUESDAY, MAY 17: NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

Profile America -- Tuesday, May 17th.  Long one of the bedrocks of America's economy, the New York Stock Exchange has recently undergone some rigorous questioning in the face of the economic downturn.  The exchange started on this date in 1792.  In good weather, merchants and brokers operated under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street.  If the weather turned sour, they moved to the shelter of a nearby coffeehouse to continue their trading.  This makeshift setup eventually evolved into an economic powerhouse, watched closely each day for signs of the health of the overall U.S. economy.  Nearly one-out-of-five of U.S. households own shares of stock and more than four-out-of- 10 invest in mutual funds.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.  

Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2011, p. 276

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, t. 1169, 1211

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau