The numbers cited here for bank rescue costs are staggering -- way beyond our imagination. Keep in mind that we are talking trillions, not billions. You might want to etch these numbers in your memory to say that you have lived through perhaps the greatest financial crisis of our time.

• The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve have spent, lent, or committed $12.8 trillion to bank rescue, which amounts to about the value of everything produced in this country as of March 31.
• EU governments have approved $5.3 trillion of aid, more than the annual GDP of Germany.
• The UK pledged $1.1 trillion to restore confidence in its lenders, the most of any EU member.
• The top three EU states providing capital injections were the UK with $781.2 billion, Denmark with $593.9 billion and Germany with $554.2 billion.

Continue reading Bank rescue costs are staggering, and there's more to come

Bank rescue costs are staggering, and there's more to come originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.