Lowe's (LOW) kicked off the week's earnings reports by posting third-quarter earnings of 24 cents per share, matching the consensus estimate. Revenue checked in at $11.4 billion, which -- while 3% lower than a year ago -- was better than the expected revenue of $11.28 billion. LOW's same-store sales dropped 7.5%.

Looking ahead, Lowe's forecast fourth-quarter earnings between nine and 13 cents per share and full-year earnings between $1.16 and $1.20 per share. Both of those forecast ranges surround the expected 10 cents per share and $1.20 per share, respectively. Lowe's also noted that it seems that some of the home markets feeling the biggest crunch in the economic crisis are stabilizing. Nevertheless, the home-improvement firm was negatively hit as customers were putting off larger purchases thanks to the economic situation.

We've watched stock market numbers bounce around for two years. Unemployment stats have served as unpleasant reminders that, for some, leading indicators haven't translated to reality. We look for so many ways to understand the brutal economic environment with which we've had to contend, and all the choices can make your head spin. So, let's make it simple. Here are eight ways to tack a label onto the financial world in which we live.

1. Lost market value
Total stock market losses from October 2007's top to March 2009's bottom: $11.2 trillion
Total gains in the stock market since the bottom: $4.6 trillion
Lost ground: $6.6 trillion

2. Bad days
Percentage of the 10 worst days in history for the Dow Jones Industrial Average that happened in 2008, by point drops: 60%
Percentage of the 10 worst days in history for the DJIA that happened in 2008, by percentage drops: 30%

3. Mutual funds
Value of mutual fund assets at the end of 2007: $6.5 trillion
... and a year later: $3.7 million
Lost value: $2.8 trillion

But, it got a little better at the end of August 2009: $4.5 trillion (value of assets)

According to the Labor Department, the unemployment rate increased to 9.7% during August -- hitting the highest level since June 1983.

The report showed that employers cut a net total of 216,000 jobs. The number of jobs cut was less than July's 276,000 (which was upwardly revised) and was the lowest reading in a year. Economists expected job cuts to come in at 225,000. As for the unemployment rate, expectations called for 9.5%.

America's second-largest retailer, Target (NYSE: TGT), announced second-quarter earnings this morning.

The discount retailer saw second-quarter earnings drop 6.4%, which was less than what the Street expected. For the quarter, Target earned 79 cents per share; down three cents from a year earlier but far better than the expected 66 cents per share.

Target was hurt by wary consumers who were less than willing to part with money on apparel and other "nonessential items." Target's CEO attributed the strong results to "very strong operating margin in our retail segment, and credit card segment performance in line with expectations."

Private equity returns are down 27.6% year-over-year for the 12-month period ending July 30, 2009, according to a Preqin report received by BloggingStocks. The London-based research house notes, however, that the global private equity industry's dry powder (i.e., uncommitted assets) continues to exceed $1 trillion, suggesting that there is still plenty of capital waiting for a rainy day.

Returns for the past 12 months reflect all the nastiness we've seen and lived -- bailouts, company collapses, equity and credit market mayhem and unemployment rates dangerously close to double-digits. But, the money is still coming in. Preqin puts the rate by which contributions outpaced distributions at 235% for buyout funds in 2008. This category raised $148 billion while distributing only $63 billion, making last year the most imbalanced for these two measures in history.

With all the focus on unemployment, the usual recession victims have been overlooked a bit. The over-65 crowd, living on fixed incomes, has seen portfolios decimated and those consistent dividends from blue chippers evaporate. At the same time, medical costs are headed in the other direction. Expenses up and income down, seniors have found only one solution: credit cards.

Low- and middle-income consumers who've reached or passed age 65 had $10,235 in credit card debt, on average, last year, up a disturbing 26% from 2005. Meanwhile, credit card debt climbed only 3% across all age groups – to $9,827. From the fourth quarter of last year to the first this year, total revolving debt fell a modest 2.3% to $939.6 billion.

Upset about last year's major bailouts? Well, you aren't the only one. At a town-hall meeting in Kansas City, Mo., Fed Chair Ben Bernanke said that he had to "hold my nose" over the bailouts, which were funded by the taxpayer.

Of course, that was about all the outrage that Big Ben had reserved for the situation, as he noted that the action had to be taken in order for the financial system and economy to not fall apart. Bernanke made the comment in response to a small-business owner who complained that small businesses were shortchanged.

Who is ready for their morning dose of anger? That is what I thought this morning when I found out about the higher pay at some investment banks following the recent bailouts. Well, let me qualify that -- it isn't necessarily higher pay, but some execs will receive the same amount as they did before the bailouts. Some Wall Street firms, enjoying improving profits are on track to "pay employees as much as, or even more than, it did in the pre-crisis days." The top six U.S. banks have set aside $74 billion to pay employees, up from $60 billion last year, according to the Washington Post.

In the wake of Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) stronger-than-expected earnings, I found an interesting article about a study published by wiki provider Wetpaint and the Altimeter Group. The study suggests that when a company/brand is more active with its consumers through social media (the likes of Facebook and Twitter), it is more likely that the company will have financial success. The study looked at a group of 100 companies from BusinessWeek's listing of the top 100 brands of 2008 and their activity on Facebook, Twitter, and the likes.

According to the study, the brands scoring the highest on the engagement scale saw 18% revenue growth in the past year. Those brands with the least engagement saw revenue decline 6%. Companies that were the most active were classified as "mavens," while the least active were called "wallflowers."

Coffee king Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX) is one of the myriad companies posting earnings today, as it is slated to release its third-quarter earnings report after the closing bell this afternoon. Analysts expect the company to report earnings of 19 cents per share, excluding special items. Such results would outpace the firm's year-ago earnings by three cents per share.

The company is expected to post these earnings in the face of the recession, as cost cuts and store closures are thought to have insulated the company's profits. The results will also be closely monitored to see the impact of the company's main competitors -- which includes McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD).