Global credit crunch, facts and figures

The panic in world financial markets has led to sharp falls in share prices and led to the contraction of credit markets. BBC News looks at how key indicators around the world have moved as recession fears grow.

STOCK MARKET JITTERS

RISING COMMODITY PRICES

THE FED'S FALLING INTEREST RATES - OVER 12 MONTHS

Twelve months ago interest rates were 5.25%. By 30 January they had dropped to 3%. They are now 2.25%, as of 18 March.

FALL OF A WALL STREET GIANT

Wall Street bank Bear Stearns collapsed when other banks lost confidence in the value of its investments in sub-prime mortgages. It was bought by JPMorgan Chase in March.

COLLAPSING US HOUSING MARKETS

Underlying the financial market wobblies is a real decline in US house prices nationwide for the first time since the 1930s.