Whether you’re a dog or a cat person, there’s no question that our four-legged friends provide us with the kind of companionship you just can’t put a price on. That didn’t stop us from doing just that however. Our latest infographic takes a look at the true cost of this obsession with our pets, along with the requisite cute photos. How much do Americans spend on pet food, supplies, and pet food? And how have the big pet supply retailers done during the economic downturn?

This infographic is based on the aggregate data from over one million Mint.com users, a representative sampling of US consumers, along with data from wiki.answers.com.

Embed the above image on your site
<a href="http://www.mint.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/pet-final.jpg"><img src="http://www.mint.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/pet-final.jpg" alt="" title="pet-final" width="600" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-9377" /></a><a href="http://www.mint.com/">Budget Planner – Mint.com</a>

Thanksgiving is a tradition that dates back to before the formation of the United States of America but most people know less about its origins than they think. Did you know that, contrary to popular belief, the first Thanksgiving on our shores was celebrated with Indians but not with Pilgrims and took place in what is now West Texas not in Plymouth Mass? Or that, not only was President Abraham Lincoln responsible for freeing the slaves, he also revived a tradition of thanksgiving that had been dormant for 45 years. And I’ll bet you think Columbus discovered America? So after you’ve stuffed your face with turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, you can use the facts & facts in our infographic to really talk turkey with the family.

Embed the above image on your site
<a href="http://www.mint.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Thanksgiving_gra.jpg"><img src="http://www.mint.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Thanksgiving_gra.jpg" alt="Thanksgiving_gra" title="Thanksgiving_gra" width="1400" height="797" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-7259" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.mint.com/">Personal Finance</a> – Mint.com

The US stock market is soaring, commodity prices are on the rise, and there are signs that consumer confidence is growing. Ask the US government if the recession is ending and you’ll hear a resounding yes as the Obama administration rushes to claim an early victory. Naysayers however point to the massive US debt and the 10% unemployment rate as signs that, even with the economic stimulus package, we still have a long way to go. Our info-graphic displays some leading economic indicators on the road to recovery.

Embed the above image on your site
<a href="http://www.mint.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/economy-2.jpg"><img src="http://www.mint.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/economy-2.jpg" alt="economy-2" title="economy-2" width="1528" height="1061" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6900" /></a><br />Mint.com <a href="http://www.mint.com/">Personal Finance Software</a>

Americans have made their voices heard with their stomachs. The second quarter of 2009 showed increasing growth in the number of people eating out. American consumers have increased their purchases in most national chain restaurants. Burger King and Taco Bell are the big winners in fast food while IHOP and Rubio’s lead the way in sit-down dining. So go on, treat yourself to a burger or a pancake this weekend, but be prepared to wait in a line… Our latest infographic is based on the aggregate data from over 1 million Mint.com users, a representative sampling of US consumers.