By Jill Mislinski
Note: We've updated the charts below based on monthly data through January.
Here's an interesting set of charts that will especially resonate with those of us who follow economic and market cycles.
Imagine that five years ago you invested $10,000 in the S&P 500. How much would it be worth today, with dividends reinvested but adjusted for inflation?
The purchasing power of your investment has increased to $14,956 for an annualized real return of 8.08%.
Had we posed the same question in March 2009, the answer would have been a depressing $6,654.