Statistics showing that McCain's claims are not fact-based below the fold.

Anderson Cooper Voiceover: "Senator McCain, are Americans better off than they were 8 years ago?" [CNN Republican Primary Debate, 1/30/2008]

John McCain: "I think you could argue that Americans overall are better off - because we have had a pretty good prosperous time…" [CNN Republican Primary Debate, 1/30/2008]

CG: "Household Income Down $1,000"
Median Household Income:

2000: $49,192
2006: $48,023

[Joint Economic Committee Fact Sheet , 8/29/2007]

McCain: "With low unemployment…"

CG: "Unemployment Up"
Unemployment Rate

January 2001: 4.2 percent
March 2008: 5.1 percent

[Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Employment Situation, March 2008]

McCain: "Low inflation..."

CG: "Highest Inflation in 17 Years"

Annual Inflation Rate
1990 6.1
1991 3.1
1992 2.9
1993 2.7
1994 2.7
1995 2.5
1996 3.3
1997 1.7
1998 1.6
1999 2.7
2000 3.4
2001 1.6
2002 2.4
2003 1.9
2004 3.3
2005 3.4
2006 2.5
2007 4.1
[Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U Historical Data]

McCain: "A lot of good things have happened."

CG: "Gas Prices Up 200%"
Retail Price Per Gallon:

Jan 1, 2001: 141.6
Apr 14, 2008 339.7

[Weekly U.S. Retail Gasoline Prices , Energy Information Administration]

McCain: "A lot of jobs have been created…"

CG: "1.8 Million Jobs Lost"

January 2001: 6.0 million unemployed
March 2008: 7.8 million unemployed

[Bureau of Labor Statistics The Employment Situation, March 2008]

Statistics provided courtesy of the Democratic National Committee