Article

What Could $432 Million Buy American Families?

The Cost of One Day of Operations in Iraq

On average, we spend $432 million a day in Iraq, while families at home feel the crunch of rising prices, declining employment, and soaring credit.

The federal government spends $432 million in Iraq on the average day, while at home American families feel the crunch of rising prices, declining employment, soaring credit, and a collapsing housing market.

So what could the federal government do for families if that $432 million a day was spent on basic necessities?

Cost of Dinner

1 gallon whole milk: $3.43
1 loaf white bread: $1.28
2 lb. chicken: $2.32
1 lb iceberg lettuce: $0.95
1 lb red delicious apples: $1.16

Total cost of dinner for one day: $9.14

$430 million would buy dinner for 47 million families.

Cost of Electricity

Cost per 500 KWH: $61.28
Average cost of electricity for one day: $3.68

$430 million would fund electricity for 116.8 million families.

Cost of Gasoline

Per Gallon: $3.10/gallon
Average cost of gasoline for one day: $4.03

$430 million would buy gasoline for 106.7 million families.


Source: U.S. Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics

The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. American Progress would like to acknowledge the many generous supporters who make our work possible.