The Ford Mustang is a legendary American muscle car that symbolizes the culture of open-road freedom. The Ford Motor Company designed the vehicle to embody the European sports car, but with a price point that’s more attainable for middle-class Americans. The idea was a massive success. The first Mustang debuted in 1964, and the Mustang enjoys a legacy and loyal fans to this day. The team at Speedway Motors celebrates the Mustang with an illustrated graphic depicting each Mustang iteration, along with the price at release and the price adjusted for inflation.

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Through this detailed and illustrated chart, we can see the evolution of this vehicle. The first Mustang Hardtop was priced at $2,368, which is $24,3444 in today’s market, emphasizing its affordability in the world of muscle cars. While the Mustang was a gamble, it proved to be a phenomenon and sold over 100,000 cars in its first four months. The Mustangs’ popularity persisted throughout the ‘60s, and Ford focused on improved performance and power, which meant prices rose. This trend continued until the early ‘70s gas crisis when Ford had to adjust to new consumer demands for better fuel mileage. They designed the Mustang II with a smaller chassis and less muscle to adjust to the changes in the economy.

The Mustang’s popularity hit a dip in the early ‘80s, and the Camaro almost outsold it. Ford innovated and adjusted again with the release of the Fox Mustang, designed to be versatile as a day-to-day muscle car. As technology advanced into the ‘90s, Ford introduced popular new features like a V8 engine and SN-95 chassis, which we can see featured in the Mustang GT.

Today’s Mustang is loaded with the most innovative features, designed for performance and comfort. The current model is the Dark Horse Premium, which sells for $69,375. While it’s a flashy and popular car, it lacks some of the performance boosts of past models, yet the price is high.

The Mustangs’ prices have risen a lot over the decades, for several key reasons besides inflation. First, safety standards have increased with innovative technology making drivers safer. Some safety features are required, while others are sought-after bonuses that drivers are looking for. A key aspect of a muscle car is the power and performance. Modern technology advances the performance of the vehicle, but that engineering comes at a higher price point. Material costs have advanced as well, from labor to raw materials. Cars, in general, are now more expensive to build.

The team’s chart is a true testament to the power of visual data. Through the images and price points, we can see changes in the Mustang reflecting cultural and economic shifts, creating a fascinating timeline of an icon among automobiles. Do you have a favorite Mustang model? What do you think about the price changes over time?

As the economy shifts, we can see changes in consumer spending habits, as reflected in this Qualtrics study, which reveals what Americans spend the most money on. These insights show us what Americans prioritize and how much flexible spending money they have available for non-essentials. Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the team created a chart breaking down spending by category and then a further breakdown of spending categories by income bracket.

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According to the data collected, Americans spend around $77,280 per year. This spending was divided into these categories, ranked by the amount spent on each.

1. Housing – $25,436 (32.9% of total annual expenses)
2. Transportation – $13,174 (17% of total annual expenses)
3. Food – $9,985 (12.9% of total annual expenses)
4. Personal insurance and pensions – $9,556 (12.4% of total annual expenses)
5. Healthcare – $6,159 (8% of total annual expenses)
6. Utilities, fuels, and public services – $4,625 (6% of total annual expenses)
7. Entertainment – $3,635 (4.7% of total annual expenses)
8. Household furnishings and equipment – $2,508 (3.2% of total annual expenses)
9. Apparel and services – $2,041 (2.6% of total annual expenses)
10. Personal care products and services – $950 (1.2% of total annual expenses)
11. Alcoholic beverages – $637 (0.8% of total annual expenses)
12. Tobacco products and smoking supplies – $370 (0.5% of total annual expenses)

Across income categories, Americans spent the most money on housing, which comes as no surprise. Housing costs and mortgage interest rates have been on the rise since 2020 in response to a shortage in housing stock. That means Americans must spend more if they dream of home ownership. The team’s data takes rent into account as well.

Many people also spent a lot on transportation. This is due to a combination of rising fuel costs leading to higher vehicle prices, as well as parts shortages that affected vehicle stock and prices. Another necessity takes number three on the list. According to the data, Americans are spending $1,174 a month on groceries. Grocery prices have dominated newsfeeds for the past few years. We all need food to survive, so seeing this item so far up the list is no surprise.

With so much uncertainty in the world, it seems Americans are investing heavily in insurance and pensions. The data shows that the more money someone makes, the more they spend on insurance, which makes sense as they need to protect expensive assets. Insurance can help offset unforeseen costs and protect investments. Unfortunately, this insurance spending is shared with high healthcare spending as well. Americans spend more than most citizens of other wealthy nations. As the cost of living has increased, so have health insurance premiums. Healthcare spending not only includes health insurance, but also co-pays, medical supplies, and surprise bills.

We live in an era full of strange relationships with money and wealth. Many Gen Z Americans state feeling “pressured” to show off wealth and luxury on social media, while 41% of Americans don’t feel they’re financially secure. Despite rising expenses, Americans still enjoy shopping, with many of them choosing to go shopping as a treat once a month. Gen Z cites boredom as their number one reason for spending money. Even so, 73% say they are willing to cut back on their daily spending to save for longer-term goals. It seems that although prices are rising, many Americans, particularly younger ones, are still willing to spend on a variety of areas.

Every year, Fortune magazine publishes its much-anticipated Fortune 500 list. This list is meticulously analyzed by company owners, investors, and influential figures in the business world. So, what makes the Fortune 500 so significant? In this article, our team at The Chartistry provides an in-depth examination of the list, exploring why it attracts so much attention and what it takes for a company to be included.

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What is the Fortune 500?

The Fortune 500 is the finance magazine’s list of the 500 most profitable companies in the United States. The company ranked at the top of the list brings in the most revenue based on its financial documents from the most recent fiscal year. The Fortune 500 list for 2024 has Walmart ranked in the top spot with revenue of $648.125B. In fact, this giant retail store has been ranked number one for the last eleven years.

What Does It Take to Make It Onto the Fortune 500?

To become a Fortune 500 company, a business must be incorporated and conduct operations in the U.S. In addition, the company’s financial documents must be public for it to be considered by Fortune.

Why Do Companies Want to Be on This List?

Fortune magazine published its first list of the top 500 U.S. companies in 1955. Since then, the presence of reputable companies such as Exxon Mobil, Goldman Sachs Group, and General Mills has given the list an air of prestige. Plus, these 500 businesses bring in incredible amounts of revenue and contribute to the strength of our economy. Wouldn’t you want your company to appear on a list alongside Walmart, Amazon, and Berkshire Hathaway?

Have Any Companies Appeared on the Fortune 500 for Decades?

Yes, some companies have made repeated appearances. Some famous names have been on the list every year since 1955, including Kellogg, Chevron, and Exxon Mobil, to name a few.

Fortune 500 Companies by State

Walmart, the number one ranked company on the Fortune 500, is located in Arkansas, with its headquarters in Bentonville. Fortune’s number two company, Amazon, is the biggest in Washington, with its headquarters in Seattle. Exxon Mobil is the biggest Fortune 500 company in Texas, and it does business out of Houston.

An interesting thing to note about this list is that not all 50 states are home to a Fortune 500 company. The states without one include:

• Alaska
• Hawaii
• Maine
• Mississippi
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Vermont
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

The Largest Fortune 500 Company Headquartered in Each State

Do Some States Have More Than One Fortune 500 Company?

Yes, several states have multiple companies on the list. Texas leads with 55 companies on the Fortune 500, followed by California with 52 and New York with 50. These states all boast a large population and bustling metropolitan areas.

Do Some States Have Just One Fortune 500 Company?

Yes, some states on the list are home to just one. These states include Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, and South Carolina. In terms of total population, each of these states ranks in the lower half on the list of 50. Delaware has the lowest population, with 1,044,320 people in 2024.

Are Some Cities Home to More Than One Fortune 500 Company?

Absolutely! In fact, some cities serve as the home base for multiple Fortune 500 companies. Some notable examples include:

Chicago

Illinois has 33 Fortune 500 companies, including Walgreens, McDonald’s, and United Airlines, among others. Dozens of these companies are headquartered in the Chicago area.

Houston

Of the 55 Fortune 500 companies in Texas, Houston is home to 21. Exxon Mobil, Sysco, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) are just a few of the impressive companies in the collection.

Atlanta

According to our chart, the biggest Fortune 500 company in Georgia is Home Depot, ranked at number 20. But Home Depot is not alone. There are 18 Fortune 500 companies in Atlanta, including Aflac, Delta Air Lines Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, UPS, and others.

Make sure to explore our other lists and visuals, which provide insight into the world of big business. One list ranks companies by employee profits (which happens to be one of our original visualizations), while another categorizes the most profitable companies by industry. It’s no surprise that many Fortune 500 companies frequently appear on various lists throughout the year, highlighting their achievements.

The Number of Fortune 500 Companies in Each State

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Fortune 500