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Amazon Prime Day 2021 is done and the next big retailer event is finally here: the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!
Whether you've been waiting for that perfect moment to buy that expensive serum or a high-end curler to make sure your hair looks salon-ready every time you leave your house, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has so much to offer. Enjoy amazing discounts on high-end clothing items, kitchen items and of course, beauty and skincare products.
While the sale doesn't officially open to the public until Wednesday, July 28, select shoppers can already take advantage of the following deals now — a La Mer cream set, Supergoop! sunscreen, Nars blush, a Drybar curler, Diptyque candles and so much more.
Nordstrom is offering tons of awesome bundles with cult-favorite brands that are only exclusive to them for the duration of their Anniversary sale! Ahead find deals from Bobbi Brown, Kiel's Since 1851, Nars, La Mer, Clinique, St. Tropez, Stila, YSL, Urban Decay and so much more.
1. Olaplex Bond Maintenance Hair Care Set, sale price: $84
Almost every hair stylist you talk to raves about the perks of Olaplex products. This set (which has a value of $126) is currently on sale for less than $90.
2. Moroccanoil Treatment Set, sale price: $44
This is a limited-edition set that includes full and travel-size bottles of the brand's hydrating, shine-boosting treatment by Morroccanoil.
3. Oribe Gold Lust Shampoo & Conditioner Set, sale price: $90
This luxurious Oribe set works just as great as it looks. It includes a limited-edition "home and away" set featuring full and travel-size bottles of Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo and Conditioner.
4. Living Proof Jumbo Perfect Hair Day Set, sale price: $99
If you're a fan of Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day products, you definitely need to get your hands on this set that features a jumbo size version of the shampoo, conditioner and dry shampoo.
5. Briogeo Healthy Hair Wonders Set, sale price: $49
This Briogeo set includes the brand's deep conditioning mask, a leave-in conditioner spray, a "superfood" hair mask and repairing treatment oil and for less than $50.
6. Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Leave-In Treatment Set, sale price: $33
This is Aveda limited-edition set that features botanical repair products to help strengthen and repair hair, including a full-size Strengthening Leave-In Treatment.
7. Oribe Magic Duo Dry Shampoo & Dry Texturizing Spray Set, sale price: $64
Option No. 12 from Oribe is this Magic Duo, which consists of the brand's fabulous dry shampoo and dry texturizing spray to help you achieve the ideal hair style.
1. Kiel's Since 1851 Ultra Facial Cleanser Set, sale price: $88
This Kiel's Since 1851 cleanser set comes with the brand's ultra facial cleanser, cream, serum and eye treatment.
2. La Mer Travel Size The Moisturizing Soft Cream Set, sale price: $95
This La Mer travel size cream set comes with the brand's fan-favorite cream, a travel size cleanser, plus oil and lotion. And of course, the turquoise travel bag!
3. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser Set, sale price: $38
This Fresh set comes with a full-size soy face cleanser and a mini size that you can take on all of your travels.
4. Fresh Rose Petal-Soft Lip Cream Set, sale price: $25
Fresh is also offering another bundle during the Anniversary sale that comes with the brand's sugar advanced therapy lip balm and their rose petal soft lip cream.
5. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate® Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash, sale price: $20
You can even snag the Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser for 50% off.
6. Slip Pure Silk White Queen Pillowcase Duo, sale price: $125
Make sure your skin stays in tip-top shape while you sleep with these silk pillowcases from Slip.
7. Laura Mercier Full Size Nourishing Rose Oil & Perfect Cream Set, sale price: $89
Snag this Laura Mercier nourishing rose oil and perfect cream set while you can.
8. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel Set, sale price: $39
Clinique's dramatically different moisturizing gel set comes with a full-size gel (meant for oily skin) and a travel-size version, too — all for the price of $39.
9. La Mer The Concentrate, sale price: $885
If you've ever been interested in trying La Mer's luxurious Concentrate serum, this would be the time to splurge, since you can get it at a discount.
10. Supergoop! Superscreen Daily Moisturizer SPF 40 Sunscreen Set, sale price: $39
Face sunblock is so important to wear on a daily basis and Supergoop! has many great options that will make you feel grease-less and ready to take on the day. This set comes with two Play sunscreens and the Supergoop! daily moisturizer.
11. L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream Set, sale price: $38
The L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream Set comes with their Shea Butter Hand Cream and a travel-size Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream.
12. St. Tropez Jumbo Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse, sale price: $46
If you love your St. Tropez self-tanner then you definitely won't want to miss out on this amazing deal on a jumbo size bottle!
13. Mac Cosmetics MAC Full Size Prep + Prime Fix+ Set, sale price: $45
The Mac Cosmetics Prep and Prime Fix+ is great for setting your makeup or even giving your bare face a misty pick-me-up.
14. Bobbi Brown Full Size Vitamin Enriched Face Base Priming Moisturizer Set, sale price: $62
Bobbi Brown's full-size Vitamin Enriched Face Base Priming Moisturizer and a mini Vitamin Enriched Eye Base Primer & Moisturizer for less than $65? We're in!
1. Stila Full Size Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Set, sale price: $32
Make sure you have the perfect cat-eye liner with Stila's Stay All Day waterproof liquid eyeliner set.
2. Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray Set, sale price: $42
Urban Decay's All Nighter Makeup Spray Set comes with two full sizes and one travel size version to make sure your products stay in place all day long.
3. Nars Orgasm Blush Duo, sale price: $40
Nars' fan-favorite "Orgasm" blush is being sold in a set of two full sizes at the price of $40 for the Anniversary sale this year. Buy one for yourself and a friend or save the other as a backup!
4. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Bae-sics Deluxe Kit, sale price: $33
The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Bae-sics Deluxe Kit comes with two Brow Wiz Mechanical Brow Pencils in the shade of your choice and the brand's well-loved clear brow gel.
5. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick Balm Travel Size Set, sale price: $38
This YSL lipstick travel size set is what dreams are made of! It comes in three shades: "4 Nude Lavalliere" which is a pink nude, "45 Rouge Tuxedo" – a bright cherry red and "131 Chili Morocco" which is a deep chili red.
6. Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Color Set, sale price: $36
Invest in some luxurious nail polishes this summer from Deborah Lippmann! This set comes with fun and neutral shades that will look good for any occasion.
7. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Duo & Velour Puff Set, sale price: $49
This Laura Mercier set comes with a full-size and mini-size of their translucent loose setting powder, plus a soft puffer to apply it.
8. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Essentials Palette, sale price: $64
Save big on the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Essentials Palette that features a powder, blush and bronzer in one compact palette.
Beauty Tools
1. PMD Personal Microderm Pro Device, sale price: $133
The PMD Personal Microderm Pro Device is a perfectly calibrated vacuum suction to brighten, smooth and even skin tone and texture.
2. Simplehuman 8-Inch Sensor Mirror, sale price: $140
The Simplehuman sensor mirror has a 5x magnification that lights up automatically as your face approaches.
3. T3 SinglePass® Curl 1.25-Inch Professional Ceramic Curling Iron, sale price: $100
T3 is discounting their 1.25-inch clamp curling iron to just $100.
4. DryBar The Double Shot Round Blow-Dryer Brush Set, sale price: $150
Enjoy this epic Drybar deal for $150 that includes their round blow-dryer brush and four other products to give you salon-ready hair at home.
1. Chloé Eau de Parfum Set, sale price: $101
Chloè's Eau de Parfum set will make you smell amazing! It comes with a full-size, mini and a matching lotion.
2. Diptyque Travel Size Scented Candle Set, sale price: $60
Make sure your space smells amazing with this travel-size scented candle set from Diptyque.
3. Gucci Bloom Nettare di Fiori Eau de Parfum Intense Set, sale price: $105
Gucci's Bloom perfume set comes with a full-size and mini rollerball for you to use on the go.
4. Nest New York Full Size Bamboo & Grapefruit Reed Diffuser Set, sale price: $67
Nest New York's full-size bamboo and grapefruit reed diffuser set is bound to put you in a good mood after a long day.
5. Tom Ford Travel Size Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil Set, sale price: $72
The Tom Ford travel-size shimmering body oil set will give you the bronzed look you're desiring all year round.


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She won Miss Universe 2000 and starred in the Bollywood hits Masti and Houseful. After several modest roles, she broke through with a part on No Entry, and established herself as a star in Bhagam Bhag.
At the Miss Universe 2000 pageant she had the highest score in the swimsuit competition, and her interview portion earned 9.99, the highest possible, from the majority of the judges.
She appeared in the 2011 film Don 2.
She was born in to a Punjabi-born father, Wing Commander L.K. Dutta, and the British-Indian Jennifer Dutta. In 2011 she married tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi and the couple had a daughter in 2012.
Anil Kapoor co-starred with her in No Entry.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mud Kitchen
We are continuing to develop our outdoor area for learning and thanks to the PTFA have recently had a new shed erected to store equipment. We would like to create a mud kitchen for the children to use where they can explore nature and the outdoors in greater depth; sorting, experimenting, testing and inquiring as they go. All characteristics of great scientists! We are looking for items from the home that you may no longer need e.g. saucepans, colanders, utensils, sieves, whisks, buckets, baskets, washing up bowls, jelly moulds, ice cube trays, nets, trays. Ideally these need to be metal, wooden or plastic, (not glass). If you have any old rugs or blankets which the children can sit on they would be useful too. Anything you could donate will be very gratefully received. Thank you! Ms Braidwood


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Well being refers back to the absence of illness. While you buy your kit, you possibly can customize it according to how closely stained your tooth are and whether or not you want extra desensitizing treatments. It's possible you'll not remove our attributions or links again, or in any other case modify Verizon Media RSS Feed content material. To find a substance abuse rehabilitation program, you possibly can search 's residence web page for rehab facilities by state or enter your zip code into the field within the middle of the web page.
Livestock insurance is a specialist coverage offered to, for example, business or passion farms, aquariums, fish farms or every other animal holding. For instance, in case you are trying to appropriate a small hole in your entrance enamel, you would possibly think about dental bonding instead of braces. Once you are achieved, you may rinse the gel off your tooth and clean the sunshine and the dental trays.
Outpatient Observation Standing: Statement status is a technique of billing for care obtained in a hospital that isn't depending on location, medical division or whether a affected person bed is assigned to the member. 82 " Neuropsychiatric disorders are the leading causes of incapacity worldwide, accounting for 37% of all wholesome life years misplaced by way of illness.These issues are most harmful to low and middle-income countries because of their incapability to offer their residents with correct support.
Self-assist is usually supportive in nature and often offers an affirming and positive approach to drawback-fixing. In 2002, Primary care trusts are set up to enhance the administration and supply of healthcare at a local degree. Dental implant surgical procedure is a procedure that replaces tooth roots with steel, screwlike posts and replaces damaged or missing teeth with synthetic teeth that look and function very like real ones.
This is when patients get to the core reasons behind their addictions , addressing these points so they can effectively transfer on with their lives with out going back to drugs, alcohol, or otherwise resuming their addictive behaviors. Therapists can present both group therapy together with one-on-one sessions whereas counselors may provide psycho-educational groups (however simply cannot call it therapy).
In modern evidence-based drugs , bloodletting is used in management of a few uncommon ailments, together with hemochromatosis and polycythemia Nonetheless, bloodletting and leeching had been widespread unvalidated interventions used till the nineteenth century, as many diseases were incorrectly considered as a result of an excess of blood, according to Hippocratic drugs.
In healthcare, there are a number of limitations and obstacles that prevent individuals from accessing needed healthcare within the society. At present, the Department of Well being and Human Companies (HHS) announced three ways the federal government will continue supporting SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) testing efforts by states and territories, especially for nursing homes, into the first quarter of 2021.


text: Watercolor painting can seem like daunting work, especially for beginners. While playful, watercolors can also be hard to control and unforgivable with mistakes, two things that don't mix well with beginners. However, there are ways to master this tricky medium. In the past, we've taught you some acrylic painting tips. So now, here are some… Read more »


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Naples Debate Returns
by Ethan Stewart
More than six months behind schedule, the draft Environmental
Impact Report for the proposed development of Santa Barbara Ranch
was released late last week. The long-awaited report — compiled by
the URS Corporation — identifies several Class I (i.e. significant)
environmental impacts within Orange County developer Matt Osgood's
plan to put 54 luxury homes on the 485-acre area popularly known as
Naples. Chief among the findings were concerns regarding the loss
of native grassland habitats and associated wildlife, specifically
on the coastal mesa area just south of Highway 101. Also identified
were Class I visual impacts to the 101 viewshed as well as various
inconsistencies with coastal land-use policies and comprehensive
land-use policies. Public comments on the report are being accepted
by the county from now through August 28, with a public hearing set
for the evening of July 27. Additionally, a public walk-through of
the site — complete with story poles on the sites of the proposed
homes — is being offered later this month.


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The Lightning Round to guide your team through storming to performing
When a team starts working together, it's all well and good…for a while. Then the "storm" hits. Conflict and tensions rise. What is a leader to do? This is a critical point in a team's cultural development that takes a skillful leader to guide through the treacherous season so that the team can build trust and effectiveness.
Do you have what it takes to man the helm of these treacherous waters of the storm phase of team development?
Here's a cool exercise that I've done dozens of times that is uniquely designed for this crucial phase. It's basically a custom designed conversational scrimmage, a role play event to see how well we can use the conversation skills of inquiry and advocacy.
Before we get too far, let's get some definitions first.
To have a learning conversation, that is, one in which we help all of us to see all the perspectives and generate ideas, we need to do two things:
- Thing 1: We need to help others explain to us what THEY are thinking; we need to make others' thinking visible to us. While there are several terms for this, I like the term inquiry as defined in Senge's Fifth Discipline Fieldbook. It means we "inquire" so as to learn the others' perspectives.
- Thing 2: We need to help others to see our thinking, to make our ideas, perspectives visible to them. This is called advocacy, as we advocate our understanding of the topic.
Most of us in our childhood were told about having two ears and one mouth. Many of us have heard that we should seek first to understand, then be understood (tip of the hat to Covey). We are supposed to be quick to listen and slow the speak (James 1:19).
But are we?
Back to my story: In this exercise, each person gets a role that they assume in a scenario. I custom design the scenario so that the role and the scenario make sense to them in the context of their real profession. I do add a bit of a stretch to the scenario to accelerate the tension in the roles.
As the exercise plays out, I have noticed a very common approach.
People advocate their position.
A lot.
The exercise usually starts by someone who has a need to speak to think. It's rarely rude or obnoxious (because these same people know I'm watching the exercise). Many times they appear to invite other opinions, but it's really a time for them to be the first to put their opinion out there.
So, here's the realization I came to this past time. With only the rare exception, it's always started by someone advocating their perspective and that kicks off a chain reaction of people counter advocating.
Have you seen these battles of advocating an idea and then counter advocating? What happens usually? Loudest voice wins, most persistent voice, stalemate? These are NOT trust and effectiveness building scenarios.
How to have conversations differently
There are those few rare exceptions where there's a subtle, small shift. Someone who invites each person a small window to put their thoughts out there, to basically do a forceful inquiry. This has had the effect of kicking off a chain reaction of inquiry. The effect of a chain reaction of inquiry?? Building understanding which leads to trust and then effectiveness.
How'd they do that? It's simple, and I call it the lightning round. (some call it the popcorn round, and there's a few other names). It is super simple.
The lightning round is an intentional start of the meeting. Each person is given 1-2 minutes to state how they see the way ahead and how they see what's in hand.
Notice what I stated here. People are stating what they see as 'success' and what they see as their current 'assets' to achieve that success. This is not a whine session. It's not a time for each person to spend their 2 minutes stating how hard, how bad, how stupid…no. The lightning round is a way for the team to inquire each person, so that when it's done there is a group appreciation of each perspective of success, and a stockpile of 'things that we have in our favor'.
Now, here's another rule for this lightning round. No one can speak for less than 30 seconds. In other words, no one can bail out by saying stuff like "I was just told to be here" or "I don't know, I'll have to see how this pans out." Everyone contributes.
Do you see the difference?
This is what is really cool. This simple conversation establishes a tone of listening, rather than a tone of competing to get my opinion out there in the vocal space.
Do you have a meeting where you'll need to solve a really sticky problem? Start it with a lightning round.
Step one: Each person states their perspective of where the group is headed, i.e. what does success look like to them.
Step two: The person states what they have to pull it off, what assets or strengths that team has to help them achieve that success.
2 minutes max person. 30 seconds minimum.
Oh. To set the stage, you as a leader should go first, or last. Going first allows each person to see where you are coming from and gives you a way to demonstrate how the lightning round is conducted. Going last shows a respect for the team's opinion over your own. Either way can work depending on your style.
Side benefit: When you as a leader set this as an ongoing expectation or habit, people will be more apt to come to the meeting prepared. Maybe you could let them know that there will be a lightning round in the meeting invite.
Can you tell we get excited about making simple changes to greatly change team culture? These sorts of exercises use the term gamification. For us at eNthusaProve, we like designing gamifications that are custom fitted to our clients. It's fun with a purpose of learning. You can't beat that combo of efficiency and results.


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AUBURN — Lewiston English teacher Patti MacKinnon will be the featured speaker at noon Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club meeting at the Village Inn.
MacKinnon has been teaching English and ELL at Lewiston High School for the past 12 years and works primarily with the immigrant and refugee population. Prior to coming to Maine, MacKinnon directed language schools in South Korea and in San Francisco, California. Around 2004, she read about the influx of Somalis in Lewiston and was intrigued by the possibility of helping them integrate, so she came to Maine.
Last year, MacKinnon and a group of Lewiston students formed a Celebrate Diversity Club to build cross-cultural understanding and acceptance by bringing people of diverse backgrounds together to share stories, food, music, dance and other cultural activities.
MacKinnon lives in Brunswick and is a member of the Brunswick Coastal Rotary Club. She spends a good part of her summer with the indigenous villagers in Guatemala working on the Safe Water for Guatemala Project she and her daughter formed several years ago.
MacKinnon will speak about her experiences with the African immigrant community and her mission to build cross-cultural understanding and acceptance in local communities.
Several of her students will share their personal stories of immigration and integration into the Lewiston community.
Lunch is available at the restaurant, located at 165 High St. Reservations are not required.
FMI: 207-753-9040, firstname.lastname@example.com, www.lewistonauburnrotary.org, facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.
Patti MacKinnon
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.


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We all have fond memories of summer when we were kids. It's one of the most happening seasons kids look forward to other than perhaps Christmas and Halloween. That's why you'd want to provide your little one with the right outfit, paired with the best summer shoes for kids. Fail to check off those items and all they'll probably remember is their sore feet.
Make your next family vacation a breeze
Travel with your kids now and build amazing memories as a family! Get our book, written by parents just like you, that will guide you all the way.
Best Summer Shoes for Kids in 2023 Review: Key Features, Pros, and Cons
Making summer fun for the kids takes some work to achieve. There's some planning involved, most especially if you're going on vacation overseas or taking a road trip. It may just be a few hours away from home or even simply preparing backyard activities for your kids to enjoy the outdoors.
Whatever treat you're cooking up will never be complete without preparation. Getting the right gear for the right activity should be on top of your list. That includes getting the right pair of shoes that your kids can comfortably move in. Need we say it affects their performance, confidence, and safety too? Well, they do!
Check out the list of top 7 shoes to shop for this season below. Scroll further below to see the buying guide too.
Image | Brand | Size / Available for Ages | Colors | Material | Details |
BEST OVERALL | Sanulk | ● 4-8 yrs ● 8-12 yrs | ● Alaska Blue ● Lavender / Cactus Flower ● Red/White ● Ridgeway Grey ● Black/White ● Green | ● Molded EVA ● Synthetic sole | Check price |
PREMIUM PICK | Sperry | ● 4-8 yrs | ● Khaki | ● Genuine leather ● Rubber sole | Check price |
BEST VALUE | Bodatu | ● Size 5-13.5 | ● Dark Blue ● Purple ● Dark Purple/Light Purple ● Black/Grey ● Black/Yellow ● Blue/Purple ● Green ● Purple/Fuschia ● Purple/Pink ● Pink ● Navy Blue | ● Mesh ● Synthetic sole | Check price |
Dream Pairs | ● Size 8-12 ● Size 4-6 (Big size) | ● Fuschie/Multicolor/Grey ● Grey/Light Grey/Red ● Purple/Light Purple ● Black/Grey/Yellow ● Blue/Fuschia/Mint ● Royal Blue/Green | ● Synthetic ● Rubber sole | Check price | |
Crocs | ● 1-4 yrs ● 4-8 yrs | ● Dark Blue | ● Croslite (Closed resin material) ● Synthetic sole | Check price | |
EQUICK | ● Sizes 8-9.5 Toddler ● Sizes 1-3 Little Kid ● Sizes 10.5-13 Little Kid | ● Black ● Royal Blue ● Blue ● Rose Red ● Rose ● Purple ● Black/Grey ● Aqua ● Purple/Sky Blue ● Sea Green/Purple ● Light Blue/White ● Rose Red/White ● Blue/Light Blue | ● Air mesh ● EVA sole | Check price | |
Nike | ● 1-4 yrs ● 4-8 yrs | ● Black/Racer Pink ● Black/White ● Psychic Pink/Laser Fuschia/Black ● Pink/Black/Laser Fuschia ● Blue/Crimson Black ● Purple Nebula/Metallic Silver/Watermelon ● Black | ● Water-ressistant textile ● Phylon/Rubber sole | Check price |
1. Sanuk Unisex Lil Walker
- Available in 6 shades
- Molded in a single piece
- Washable
- Air/Drain holes
What makes this pair special is how they cross style and comfort. It's definitely not as brute as a pair of sandals yet it isn't quite as snobbish and elegant like the Sperry Boat Shoe 1 Eye. That's why we love it!
It keeps the kids protected from dirt while also supporting a constant influx of air. If they find themselves soaked in water, this pair easily drains and dries up. I personally love that it's low maintenance. All you need is to wipe out mud and marks most days.
2. Sperry Boat Shoe 1 Eye
- 100% Genuine Leather
- Memory foam-lined insoles
- Eyelets with bow
- Visible thick stitching
- Rubber sole
If you're looking for a pair of shoes for summer casuals with flair, you can't possibly say 'no' to a Sperry boat shoe. I like watching our kids instantly transform into teenagers whenever they have a Sperry on.
Need we say it's a classic? It is indeed more expensive than most other regular shoes for kids but then again, it's far from regular. If you settle for one, you'll be making your kids more than just comfort. You'll be giving them a classy vibe. So, what's not to love about it?
Afraid it might get damaged in water? These are boat shoes, aren't they? It will work harder near the water just try not to soak it in.
3. Bodatu Closed-Toe Sandals Unisex
- Velcro straps to open and close
- Lightweight soles
- Made with water-proof material
We named this best value in this list of the best summer shoes for kids for two reasons. First, it only costs about a third of the price of a pair of Sperry Boat Shoe 1 Eye. Second, it's so lightweight that your child won't even feel a thing.
Our son used to have a different brand of closed-toe sandals that were so heavy we practically threw it away after just one wear. Shoes that are too heavy risk your kids' safety. Well, this one won't.
4. DREAM PAIRS Closed-Toe Summer Outdoor Sandals — Best Summer Sports Sandals
- Ultra-lightweight
- Flexible soles
- Padded insoles
- Durable rubber outsoles
When the kids don't exactly need to be sporting for athletics level play, these sandals are perfect for strolls in the park or the mall. Since the materials also dry fast, they're just as appropriate for side trips to the beach or even as an extra pair for overnight camping. If there's an extra pair you want to take on your next road trip, this one is it.
5. Crocs Crocband Ii Sandals — Best Walking Sandals
- Made with the patented material Croslite
- Wide range of size and color availability
- Sizing and structure designed for growing boys and girls
If you love how your Crocs make your feet feel comfy, there's no reason why you shouldn't give your kids the same level of comfort. Trust me it's worth it.
I highly recommend getting your kids at least the next bigger size. Even if this pair were the most frequently used in your kid's footwear arsenal, it's just so durable that it's bound to last. Thanks to the patented material, Croslite. It's neither foam nor rubber and it's exclusive to Crocs.
6. EQUICK Aqua Shoes Swim Shoes — Best Beach Shoes
- Cool mesh material
- Cushioned, breathable insoles
- Adjustable elastic drawstrings
- Wide availability of colors and sizes
If your child's time outdoors involves a broad range of activities, this pair will live up to many changing needs. It's perfect for light athletics and low-intensity running just as it is great on the feet for relaxed walking and strolls by the beach.
We like making our kids wear this pair for extended local and overseas trips because the versatility just knows no bounds. If you like to pack light like we do, this is the pair you make your kids wear.
7. Nike Sunray Protect Kids — Best Water-Resistant Shoes
- Genuine rubber sole
- Closed-toe design
- Water-resistant upper body material
- Anti-slip contoured soles
For those moments when you need a pair of shoes to keep your child uber comfy in more rugged terrain or more intense physical activities, you want peace of mind only a trusted brand can give.
This pair of Nike sandals comes with contoured soles to help protect your child from slipping and tripping. Other than its unique and identifiable design, it is also highly versatile and goes well with any casual and sporty outfit.
Best Summer Shoes for Kids: Buying Guide
Parents like you and I would give everything for the comfort of our kids. Although comfort usually comes with a price, it doesn't always have to be. On the flipside, not everything that comes with a hefty price tag guarantees your child's comfort and your satisfaction as a parent.
So, after pondering on factors you should consider when shopping for summer shoes for your kiddos, here are the Top 5 factors you should check:
Expecting your child to be running around on plain, level ground? There are great summer shoes for that. But, if some sporting activities involve more intensive running or sports or even getting wet on the beach, you should make your shopping choice more carefully.
If you're planning on getting wet, make sure your child's footwear is either waterproof or dries up easily. If you're planning to make your child wear it for the rugged outdoors, you want something easy to clean, something that will allow you to wipe off mud and dust in one swipe.
Your little one's happiness is your happiness. Find that comfortable pair of shoes and fun bonding times ahead are guaranteed.
The last thing you want is a kid ranting about blisters. Then, your entire weekend getaway planning and prepping will have been put to waste. I highly recommend you bring an extra pair. Other than that, it's always best to have your child break in his or her new pair of summer shoes prior to a long trip.
Item Size, Weight, & Structure
We don't shop for shoes that are too heavy. Other than weighing down your child and adding unnecessary stress to his feet and legs, shoes that are heavy also increase your child's risk of getting into accidents.
I also mind the height of the shoes. I'm not a big fan of heeled shoes for girls. I also don't like platforms that are too high which increases a child's chances of tripping. You should particularly pay attention if your child just recently learned how to walk and run.
As parents, we acknowledge that our kids have their own personalities. We started them early on making their own choices when it comes to what clothes and shoes to wear. Some parents, however, would insist on their style and disregard what their kids think.
Try to get your child's two cents on the choices we listed here. If it doesn't suit your taste, let it be. What's really important is that they feel good about what they're wearing. Then, you'll just have to make sure they don't get blisters. Also, don't show them choices that are not within your budget.
I suppose we all understand how important it is to stick to your budget. But, when faced with the newest trend, the hippest style, or the most state-of-the-art product features, it's so easy to forget what you've budgeted for.
When shopping for your kids' necessities and yours, just remember how there are a thousand and one other things that you need to buy. Besides, they grow up so fast.
We get the same temptation when a thousand-dollar product is dangled in our sight. I must admit, we've given in several times. Hard lessons were learned — haven't we all? So when shopping for kids' shoes, window shop, assign a reasonable budget, and stick to it when you're ready to cash in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should you buy the next bigger size when shopping for kids' shoes for summer?
Getting kids shoes that are one size bigger is recommended but it may not always be practical. Shoes made for sports and active play are two of the exceptions.
Crocs Crocband Ii Sandals outrightly recommends getting the next bigger size. But not all options are molded to suit kids' feet in larger sizes.
You must constantly find the balance between getting the best value for your money and the most comfortable footwear for your little one.
Q: Is it okay to make a child wear summer shoes to a more formal event?
I wouldn't mind if I were the host. Although any parent would want their child to be wearing something more appropriate. Besides, it's a rare chance to dress up your little one.
I was in a similar dilemma once when we were attending a beach wedding with our son. Although he wasn't part of the entourage, I wanted him dressed properly.
So I dressed him up with his tux but made him put on his Sperry simply because I know that leather shoes can be uncomfortable – – even for adults! Because of that, we had a great time at the party. We also made sure to pack his Bodatu sandals.
It's all too easy to think finding the best summer shoes for kids won't make you break a sweat. But, let me tell you that if you fail to practice due diligence before you buy, it will be at the expense of your little one.
As far as visual presentation is concerned, you'll never run out of choices. But, when you're looking for a pair you can trust, there are not very many. So look more closely.


text:
As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation (after Russia), Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating world wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key western economic and security organizations, the EC (now the EU) and NATO, while the communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German reunification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring eastern productivity and wages up to western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark
Geographic coordinates
Map references
Area - comparative
three times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries
total: 3,694 km
border countries (9): Austria 801 km; Belgium 133 km; Czechia 704 km; Denmark 140 km; France 418 km; Luxembourg 128 km; Netherlands 575 km; Poland 447 km; Switzerland 348 km
2,389 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind
lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south
highest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m
lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.5 m
mean elevation: 263 m
Natural resources
coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 48% (2018 est.)
arable land: 34.1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 13.3% (2018 est.)
forest: 31.8% (2018 est.)
other: 20.2% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
5,056 sq km (2020)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Austria) - 540 sq km
salt water lake(s): Stettiner Haff/Zalew Szczecinski (shared with Poland) - 900 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Danube river source (shared with Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Elbe river mouth (shared with Czechia [s]) - 1,252 km; Rhine (shared with Switzerland [s], France, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution
second most populous country in Europe; a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations, particularly in the far western part of the industrial state of North Rhine-Westphalia
Natural hazards
Geography - note
strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea; most major rivers in Germany - the Rhine, Weser, Oder, Elbe - flow northward; the Danube, which originates in the Black Forest, flows eastward
People and Society
noun: German(s)
adjective: German
Ethnic groups
German 86.3%, Turkish 1.8%, Polish 1%, Syrian 1%, Romanian 1%, other/stateless/unspecified 8.9% (2020 est.)
note: data represent population by nationality
German (official); note - Danish, Frisian, Sorbian, and Romani are official minority languages; Low German, Danish, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, and Romani are recognized as regional languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
major-language sample(s):
Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Roman Catholic 26.7%, Protestant 24.3%, Muslim 3.5%, other 4.8%, none 40.7% (2020 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 12.89% (male 5,302,850/female 5,025,863)
15-24 years: 9.81% (male 4,012,412/female 3,854,471)
25-54 years: 38.58% (male 15,553,328/female 15,370,417)
55-64 years: 15.74% (male 6,297,886/female 6,316,024)
65 years and over: 22.99% (male 8,148,873/female 10,277,538) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 56.4
youth dependency ratio: 21.7
elderly dependency ratio: 34.7
potential support ratio: 2.9 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 47.8 years
male: 46.5 years
female: 49.1 years (2020 est.)
Population distribution
second most populous country in Europe; a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations, particularly in the far western part of the industrial state of North Rhine-Westphalia
urban population: 77.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
3.574 million BERLIN (capital), 1.788 million Hamburg, 1.576 million Munich, 1.144 million Cologne, 796,000 Frankfurt (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
29.9 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
7 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154Infant mortality rate
total: 3.19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 81.51 years
male: 79.15 years
female: 84 years (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
67% (2018)
note: percent of women aged 18-49
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
11.7% of GDP (2019)
Physicians density
4.44 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density
8 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 10.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 5.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 3.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
total: 22% (2020 est.)
male: 24.1% (2020 est.)
female: 19.9% (2020 est.)
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 17 years (2020)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 6.9%
male: 7.3%
female: 6.4% (2021 est.)
Environment - current issues
emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power by 2022; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive
Environment - international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 11.71 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 727.97 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 49.92 megatons (2020 est.)
temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind
Land use
agricultural land: 48% (2018 est.)
arable land: 34.1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 13.3% (2018 est.)
forest: 31.8% (2018 est.)
other: 20.2% (2018 est.)
urban population: 77.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
forest revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 51.046 million tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 24,415,302 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 47.8% (2015 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Austria) - 540 sq km
salt water lake(s): Stettiner Haff/Zalew Szczecinski (shared with Poland) - 900 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Danube river source (shared with Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Elbe river mouth (shared with Czechia [s]) - 1,252 km; Rhine (shared with Switzerland [s], France, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 4.388 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 19.75 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 299.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
154 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Country name
conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany
conventional short form: Germany
local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland
local short form: Deutschland
former: German Reich
etymology: the Gauls (Celts) of Western Europe may have referred to the newly arriving Germanic tribes who settled in neighboring areas east of the Rhine during the first centuries B.C. as "Germani," a term the Romans adopted as "Germania"; the native designation "Deutsch" comes from the Old High German "diutisc" meaning "of the people"
Government type
federal parliamentary republic
name: Berlin
geographic coordinates: 52 31 N, 13 24 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: the origin of the name is unclear but may be related to the old West Slavic (Polabian) word "berl" or "birl," meaning "swamp"
Administrative divisions
16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen (Hesse), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland, Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt), Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen (Thuringia); note - Bayern, Sachsen, and Thueringen refer to themselves as free states (Freistaaten, singular - Freistaat), while Bremen calls itself a Free Hanseatic City (Freie Hansestadt) and Hamburg considers itself a Free and Hanseatic City (Freie und Hansestadt)
18 January 1871 (establishment of the German Empire); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed on 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed on 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany unified on 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights on 15 March 1991; notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February 962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor)
National holiday
German Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
history: previous 1919 (Weimar Constitution); latest drafted 10-23 August 1948, approved 12 May 1949, promulgated 23 May 1949, entered into force 24 May 1949
amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage and enactment into law require two-thirds majority vote by both the Bundesrat (upper house) and the Bundestag (lower house) of Parliament; articles including those on basic human rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended many times, last in 2020; note - in early 2021, the German federal government introduced a bill to incorporate children's rights into the constitution
Legal system
civil law system
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a German citizen or a resident alien who has lived in Germany at least 8 years
dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission from government
residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
18 years of age; universal; age 16 for some state and municipal elections
Executive branch
chief of state: President Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (since 19 March 2017)
head of government: Chancellor Olaf SCHOLZ (since 8 December 2021)
cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) recommended by the chancellor, appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by a Federal Convention consisting of all members of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) and an equivalent number of delegates indirectly elected by the state parliaments; president serves a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 13 February 2022 (next to be held in February 2027); following the most recent Federal Parliament election, the party or coalition with the most representatives usually elects the chancellor who is appointed by the president to serve a renewable 4-year term; Federal Parliament vote for chancellor last held on 8 December 2021 (next to be held after the Bundestag election in 2025)
election results: 2017: Frank-Walter STEINMEIER reelected president; Federal Convention vote count - Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (SPD) 1,045, Max OTTE (CDU) 140, Gerhard TRABERT (The Left) 96, Stefanie GEBAUER (Free Voters) 58, abstentions 86; Olaf SCHOLZ (SPD) elected chancellor; Federal Parliament vote - 395 to 303
2012: Joachim GAUCK elected president; Federal Convention vote count - Joachim GAUCK (Independent) 911, Beate KLARSFELD (The Left) 126, Olaf ROSE 3
Legislative branch
description: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of:
Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 seats statutory, 71 current; members appointed by each of the 16 state governments)
Federal Diet or Bundestag (736 seats statutory, 736 for the 2021-25 term - total seats can vary each electoral term; currently includes 4 seats for independent members; approximately one-half of members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and approximately one-half directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members' terms depend upon the states they represent)
Bundesrat - none; determined by the composition of the state-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has the potential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an election
Bundestag - last held on 26 September 2021 (next to be held in September 2025 at the latest); almost all postwar German governments have been coalitions
election results:
Bundesrat - composition - men 46, women 23, percent of women 33.3%
Bundestag - percent of vote by party - SPD 28%, CDU/CSU 26.8%, Alliance '90/Greens 16%, FDP 12.5%, AfD 11%, The Left 5.3%, other .04%; seats by party - SPD 206, CDU/CSU 197, Alliance '90/Greens 118, FDP 92, AfD 81, The Left 39, other 3; composition - men 479, women 257, percent of women 34.9%; note - total Parliament percent of women 34.8%
note - due to Germany's recognition of the concepts of "overhang" (when a party's share of the nationwide votes would entitle it to fewer seats than the number of individual constituency seats won in an election under Germany's mixed member proportional system) and "leveling" (whereby additional seats are elected to supplement the members directly elected by each constituency in order to ensure that each party's share of the total seats is roughly proportional to the party's overall shares of votes at the national level), the 20th Bundestag is the largest to date
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Federal Court of Justice (court consists of 127 judges, including the court president, vice presidents, presiding judges, other judges and organized into 25 Senates subdivided into 12 civil panels, 5 criminal panels, and 8 special panels); Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (consists of 2 Senates each subdivided into 3 chambers, each with a chairman and 8 members)
judge selection and term of office: Federal Court of Justice judges selected by the Judges Election Committee, which consists of the Secretaries of Justice from each of the 16 federated states and 16 members appointed by the Federal Parliament; judges appointed by the president; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; Federal Constitutional Court judges - one-half elected by the House of Representatives and one-half by the Senate; judges appointed for 12-year terms with mandatory retirement at age 68
subordinate courts: Federal Administrative Court; Federal Finance Court; Federal Labor Court; Federal Social Court; each of the 16 federated states or Land has its own constitutional court and a hierarchy of ordinary (civil, criminal, family) and specialized (administrative, finance, labor, social) courts; two English-speaking commercial courts opened in late 2020 in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg - English-speaking Stuttgart Commercial Court and English-speaking Mannheim Commercial Court
Political parties and leaders
Alliance '90/Greens [Ricarda LANG and Omid NOURIPOUR]
Alternative for Germany or AfD [Alice WEIDEL and Tino CHRUPALLA]
Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Friedrich MERZ]
Christian Social Union or CSU [Markus SOEDER]
Free Democratic Party or FDP [Christian LINDNER]
Free Voters [Hubert AIWANGER]
The Left or Die Linke [Janine WISSLER and Martin SCHIRDEWAN]
Social Democratic Party or SPD [Saskia ESKEN and Lars KLINGBEIL]
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Emily Margarethe HABER (since 22 June 2018)
chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 298-4000
email address and website:
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Amy GUTMANN (since 17 February 2022)
embassy: Pariser Platz 2, 10117 Berlin
Clayallee 170, 14191 Berlin (administrative services)
mailing address: 5090 Berlin Place, Washington DC 20521-5090
telephone: [49] (30) 8305-0
email address and website:
consulate(s) general: Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold; these colors have played an important role in German history and can be traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor - a black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold field
National symbol(s)
eagle; national colors: black, red, yellow
National anthem
name: "Das Lied der Deutschen" (Song of the Germans)
lyrics/music: August Heinrich HOFFMANN VON FALLERSLEBEN/Franz Joseph HAYDN
note: adopted 1922; the anthem, also known as "Deutschlandlied" (Song of Germany), was originally adopted for its connection to the March 1848 liberal revolution; following appropriation by the Nazis of the first verse, specifically the phrase, "Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles" (Germany, Germany above all) to promote nationalism, it was banned after 1945; in 1952, its third verse was adopted by West Germany as its national anthem; in 1990, it became the national anthem for the reunited Germany
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 51 (48 cultural, 3 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin (c); Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (c); Speyer Cathedral (c); Upper Middle Rhine Valley (c); Aachen Cathedral (c); Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau, and Bernau (c); Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura (c); Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar, and Upper Harz Water Management System (c); Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter, and Church of Our Lady in Trier (c); Hanseatic City of Lübeck (c); Old Town of Regensburg (c); Messel Pit Fossil Site (n)
Economic overview
The German economy - the fifth largest economy in the world in PPP terms and Europe's largest - is a leading exporter of machinery, vehicles, chemicals, and household equipment. Germany benefits from a highly skilled labor force, but, like its Western European neighbors, faces significant demographic challenges to sustained long-term growth. Low fertility rates and a large increase in net immigration are increasing pressure on the country's social welfare system and necessitate structural reforms.
Reforms launched by the government of Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER (1998-2005), deemed necessary to address chronically high unemployment and low average growth, contributed to strong economic growth and falling unemployment. These advances, as well as a government subsidized, reduced working hour scheme, help explain the relatively modest increase in unemployment during the 2008-09 recession - the deepest since World War II. The German Government introduced a minimum wage in 2015 that increased to $9.79 (8.84 euros) in January 2017.
Stimulus and stabilization efforts initiated in 2008 and 2009 and tax cuts introduced in Chancellor Angela MERKEL's second term increased Germany's total budget deficit - including federal, state, and municipal - to 4.1% in 2010, but slower spending and higher tax revenues reduced the deficit to 0.8% in 2011 and in 2017 Germany reached a budget surplus of 0.7%. A constitutional amendment approved in 2009 limits the federal government to structural deficits of no more than 0.35% of GDP per annum as of 2016, though the target was already reached in 2012.
Following the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Chancellor Angela MERKEL announced in May 2011 that eight of the country's 17 nuclear reactors would be shut down immediately and the remaining plants would close by 2022. Germany plans to replace nuclear power largely with renewable energy, which accounted for 29.5% of gross electricity consumption in 2016, up from 9% in 2000. Before the shutdown of the eight reactors, Germany relied on nuclear power for 23% of its electricity generating capacity and 46% of its base-load electricity production.
The German economy suffers from low levels of investment, and a government plan to invest 15 billion euros during 2016-18, largely in infrastructure, is intended to spur needed private investment. Domestic consumption, investment, and exports are likely to drive German GDP growth in 2018, and the country's budget and trade surpluses are likely to remain high.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$4.239 trillion (2020 est.)
$4.457 trillion (2019 est.)
$4.432 trillion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
0.59% (2019 est.)
1.3% (2018 est.)
2.91% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$50,900 (2020 est.)
$53,600 (2019 est.)
$53,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$3,860,923,000,000 (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.4% (2019 est.)
1.7% (2018 est.)
1.5% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: AAA (1994)
Moody's rating: Aaa (1986)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1983)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained. Credit ratings prior to 1989 refer to West Germany.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 0.7% (2017 est.)
industry: 30.7% (2017 est.)
services: 68.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 53.1% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 19.5% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 20.4% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.5% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 47.3% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -39.7% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, sugar beets, wheat, barley, potatoes, pork, maize, rye, rapeseed, triticale
among the world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, automobiles, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 24.2%
services: 74.3% (2016)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 6.9%
male: 7.3%
female: 6.4% (2021 est.)
Population below poverty line
14.8% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
31.9 (2016 est.)
30 (1994)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 24% (2000)
revenues: 1.665 trillion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 1.619 trillion (2017 est.)
Public debt
63.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
67.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
note: general government gross debt is defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises the sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government and social security funds; the series are presented as a percentage of GDP and in millions of euros; GDP used as a denominator is the gross domestic product at current market prices; data expressed in national currency are converted into euro using end-of-year exchange rates provided by the European Central Bank
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
$280.238 billion (2019 est.)
$297.434 billion (2018 est.)
$1.672 trillion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.813 trillion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.882 trillion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners
United States 9%, France 8%, China 7%, Netherlands 6%, United Kingdom 6%, Italy 5%, Poland 5%, Austria 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, aircraft, medical cultures/vaccines, industrial machinery (2019)
$1,452,300,000,000 (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.594 trillion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1,635,600,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners
Netherlands 9%, China 8%, France 7%, Belgium 6%, Poland 6%, Italy 6%, Czechia 5%, United States 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, medical cultures/vaccines (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$200.1 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$173.7 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Debt - external
$5,671,463,000,000 (2019 est.)
$5,751,408,000,000 (2018 est.)
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.82771 (2020 est.)
0.90338 (2019 est.)
0.87789 (2018 est.)
0.885 (2014 est.)
0.7634 (2013 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
installed generating capacity: 248.265 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 500.35 billion kWh (2020 est.)
exports: 66.931 billion kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 48.047 billion kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 25.97 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 40.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 11.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 9.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 23.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 4.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 10.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
production: 114.86 million metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 145.379 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 2.317 million metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 31.503 million metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 35.9 billion metric tons (2019 est.)
total petroleum production: 135,000 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 2,346,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 1,720,600 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 115.2 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
2.158 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9Natural gas
production: 5.129 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
consumption: 8.755 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2020 est.)
imports: 83.12 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 23.39 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
726.881 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 218.636 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 316.064 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 192.181 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
161.174 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 38.3 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 107.4 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: with one of Europe's largest telecom markets, Germany hosts a number of significant operators which offer effective competition in the mobile and broadband sectors; the German mobile market is driven by mobile data, with the number of mobile broadband subscribers having increased rapidly in recent years; with LTE now effectively universally available, considerable progress has recently been made in building out 5G networks (2022)
domestic: extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available, expanding rapidly, and includes roaming service to many foreign countries; approximately 46 per 100 for fixed-line and 128 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2020)
international: country code - 49; landing points for SeaMeWe-3, TAT-14, AC-1, CONTACT-3, Fehmarn Balt, C-Lion1, GC1, GlobalConnect-KPN, and Germany-Denmark 2 & 3 - submarine cables to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; as well as earth stations in the Inmarsat, Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media
a mixture of publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; 70 national and regional public broadcasters compete with nearly 400 privately owned national and regional TV stations; more than 90% of households have cable or satellite TV; hundreds of radio stations including multiple national radio networks, regional radio networks, and a large number of local radio stations
Internet users
total: 74,844,784 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 90% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 36,215,303 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2020 est.)
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 20 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1,113
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 109,796,202 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7,969,860,000 (2018) mt-km
Airports - with paved runways
total: 318
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 49
1,524 to 2,437 m: 60
914 to 1,523 m: 70
under 914 m: 125 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 221
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 185 (2021)
23 (2021)
37 km condensate, 26,985 km gas, 2,400 km oil, 4,479 km refined products, 8 km water (2013)
total: 33,590 km (2017)
standard gauge: 33,331 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (19,973 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 220 km 1.000-m gauge (79 km electrified)
15 km 0.900-mm gauge, 24 km 0.750-mm gauge (2015)
total: 625,000 km (2017)
paved: 625,000 km (2017) (includes 12,996 km of expressways)
note: includes local roads
7,467 km (2012) (Rhine River carries most goods; Main-Danube Canal links North Sea and Black Sea)
country comparison to the world: 20Merchant marine
total: 599
by type: container ship 77, general cargo 85, oil tanker 36, other 401 (2021)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):
Baltic Sea: Kiel, Rostock
North Sea: Bremerhaven, Brunsbuttel, Emden, Hamburg, Wilhelmshaven
oil terminal(s): Brunsbuttel Canal terminals
container port(s) (TEUs): Bremen/Bremerhaven (4,856,900), Hamburg (9,274,215) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Hamburg
river port(s): Bremen (Weser); Bremerhaven (Geeste); Duisburg, Karlsruhe, Neuss-Dusseldorf (Rhine); Lubeck (Wakenitz); Brunsbuttel, Hamburg (Elbe)
Transportation - note
Germany operates one PC 5 or 6 class icebreaker based in the North Atlantic
note - PC indicates a Polar Class vessel: PC 5 - year-round operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 70-120 cm); PC 6 - summer/autumn operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 30-70 cm)
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): Army (Heer), Navy (Deutsche Marine, includes naval air arm), Air Force (Luftwaffe, includes air defense), Joint Support Service (Streitkraeftebasis, SKB), Central Medical Service (Zentraler Sanitaetsdienst, ZSanDstBw), Cyber and Information Space Command (Kommando Cyber und Informationsraum, Kdo CIR) (2022)
Military expenditures
1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2021)
1.5% of GDP (2020)
1.4% of GDP (2019) (approximately $60.1 billion)
1.3% of GDP (2018) (approximately $55.4 billion)
note: in 2022, the German Government said defense spending would reach 2% of GDP by 2025
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 184,000 active duty personnel (63,000 Army; 16,000 Navy; 27,000 Air Force; 27,000 Joint Support Service; 20,000 Medical Service, 16,000 Cyber and Information Space Command; 15,000 other, including central staff, support, etc.) (2022)
note: Germany in 2020 announced it planned to increase the size of the military to about 200,000 troops by 2025
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the German Federal Armed Forces inventory is comprised of weapons systems produced domestically or jointly with other European countries and Western imports, particularly from the US; since 2010, the US has been the leading foreign supplier; Germany's defense industry is capable of manufacturing the full spectrum of air, land, and naval military weapons systems, and is one of the world's leading arms exporters (2022)
Military service age and obligation
17-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (must have completed compulsory full-time education and have German citizenship); conscription ended July 2011; service obligation 7-23 months or 12 years; women have been eligible for voluntary service in all military branches and positions since 2001 (2022)
note: in 2021, women accounted for about 12% of the German military
Military deployments
up to 500 Iraq (NATO); 1,030 Lithuania (NATO); up to 1,400 Mali (MINUSMA/EUTM); 280 Slovakia (NATO) (2022)
note 1: in November 2022, Germany pledged to withdraw its troops from Mali by Spring 2024
note 2: in response to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Germany, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe
Military - note
the Federal Republic of Germany joined NATO in May 1955; with the reunification of Germany in October 1990, the states of the former German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany in its membership of NATO
the German Army has incorporated a joint Franco-German mechanized infantry brigade since 1989, a Dutch airmobile infantry brigade since 2014, and a Dutch mechanized infantry brigade since 2016; in addition, the German Navy's Sea Battalion (includes marine infantry, naval divers, reconnaissance, and security forces) has worked closely with the Dutch Marine Corps since 2016, including as a binational amphibious landing group (2022)
Terrorist group(s)
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 616,325 (Syria), 152,677 (Afghanistan), 147,400 (Iraq), 62,152 (Eritrea), 45,704 (Iran), 34,465 (Turkey), 29,137 (Somalia), 9,329 (Russia), 9,323 (Nigeria), 8,600 (Pakistan), 7,503 (Serbia and Kosovo), 6,057 (Ethiopia) (mid-year 2021); 1,021,667 (Ukraine) (as of 22 November 2022)
stateless persons: 26,980 (mid-year 2021)
Illicit drugs
maritime transshipment point for cocaine heading to Europe


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Drake House
Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the US.
Hosted by the Leominster Historical Society and the City of Leominster


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Iowa's GOP Family Feud
On one side you have a popular Republican governor, Terry Branstad. He is pushing a more inclusive brand of GOP politics by encouraging folks not usually associated with activism to get interested in caucuses — very conservative gatherings, traditionally — so more voices are heard by the state party.
On the other side you have Iowa state party chairman A.J. Spiker, a former Ron Paul aide who is more inclined to engage in partisanship than to act as a structural organizer and fundraiser. He is running an ideological coalition that ushered in an unprecedented level of intraparty policy engagement that is often antagonistic to Iowa's elected Republicans.
Geoffrey Skelley, an analyst for the Crystal Ball project at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, said the party discord is serious and is not helped by Spiker's opposition to and bad-mouthing of Republicans who don't share his libertarianism.
All of this drama is unfolding as Iowa prepares to take center stage in national politics in the 2014 midterms, with two open and competitive U.S. House seats, one open U.S. Senate seat and Branstad's run for an unprecedented sixth term.
Skelley doesn't see any of this as affecting the race for governor. "Branstad is a heavy favorite to win," he said, despite a "moderate-conservative brand that has irritated some on the right."
In the Senate race, opened by the retirement of longtime progressive Democrat Tom Harkin, Skelley said the Democrats' and Republicans' nomination battles are polar opposites.
"Rep. Bruce Braley is unopposed and should be a fairly solid candidate for Democrats," he explained. "Meanwhile, some top-tier names, such as retiring Rep. Tom Latham and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, passed on running for the Republican nomination," which created a "cast of B- and C-list candidates throwing their hats in the ring."
This is where party disunity may hinder Republicans' chance of picking up a Senate seat, despite a national political climate that is unfavorable to Democrats.
With at least six candidates already in the GOP primary contest, chances are good that the winner may receive less than 35 percent of the vote. If that happens, election rules in the Hawkeye State dictate that the nominee be determined at a convention.
Recent history in states such as Virginia shows us that the convention method can lead to the nomination of strident conservatives who lack strong general-election appeal.
Given Braley's easy path to the nomination and his ability to fundraise with an eye on the general election, versus the muddled picture on the GOP side, the University of Virginia's Crystal Ball rates this race as leaning Democrat, Skelley said. But "if the national environment remains unfavorable for Democrats, it would be foolish to discount Republican chances in states such as Iowa, Colorado and Michigan," he added.
With Braley running for the Senate and Latham retiring, two of Iowa's four House seats are open this election year. Both contests should be relatively competitive.
Latham's district is one of 17 Republican-held House seats nationally that President Obama won in 2012. Skelley said things are still very fluid on both sides and each party's field of contenders may expand; he rates this seat as a toss-up.
Braley's seat is the most Democrat-leaning district in Iowa, having gone 56-43 for Obama in 2012. As a result, it is rated likely to go Democrat in the fall.
The state's two other congressional seats — those of Dave Loebsack, a Democrat, and Steve King, a Republican — are considered safe for their respective incumbents.
Republicans' family feud in Iowa does have its immediate problems, not the least of which is to make fundraising more difficult. But it also has a silver lining.
Branstad's push to get more folks engaged in the caucus process caused precinct captains to report record turnouts for a midterm year. And the last time a political party had this much division in the first-in-the-nation caucus state was heading into the presidential election year of 2008, when Democrats John Edwards, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton divided evangelical, progressive and establishment Democrats.
That turned out to be a pretty good year for Democrats in the general election.
Salena Zito


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Some sectors of the population may feel the pain of interest rate hikes, while current retirees, and those near retirement, could actually benefit.
Potential homebuyers frowned at the Fed's mid-March quarter-point rate hike because they can expect mortgage rates to continue to climb steadily, as they have since January. Freddie Mac's weekly research bulletin shows that between Jan. 20 and March 24, rates for 30-year mortgages increased more than 1.1 percentage points. A review by the Mortgage Bankers Association revealed that the higher rates are starting to dampen home-buying, with purchases declining by 6% week over week. We have to wait to see whether slowing sales affect how the Fed adjusts its rates.
On the other hand, many retirees are smiling as interest rates creep up. That's because if a portion of your income is coming from fixed income investments, you can see those yields rise. And one group of retirees could be particularly happy: those who are planning to include annuity payments as one of their sources of income.
Insurance companies sell income annuities, which are the source of annuity payments. They invest the annuity reserves in mortgages and similar loans. When interest rates rise, the insurance companies offer annuities with higher annuity payments, too. An annuity purchased today will pay more than one bought just a couple of months ago. For a woman age 70 who considered purchasing a life-only income annuity with a $1 million premium, the annuity payments increased by 7% from $67,204 on December 21.2021 to $71,926 March 22, 2022.
This increase in annuity payments also means you can create more safe income in your plan for retirement. With both higher and more safe income you'll have lots of options on recalibrating your plan.
A Chance at Even Better Annuity Payments Ahead
The Fed says it plans to raise rates several more times over the next year, with one increase expected to be as much as 0.50%. We can expect insurance companies to continue to re-price their income annuities, although not necessarily in lock step.
For every quarter percent Fed rate hike, the income from an annuity might increase by 1.5%. The reason for this multiplier impact is fairly complex and varies by annuity carrier. In its simplest form (which I applied many years ago) the interest rate yield curve on the carrier's investment was built into the pricing for the life of the annuity and not for a single year.
So, should you wait to buy your annuity until all the predicted Fed hikes have been put in place? Considered in a vacuum, you would do that. But the real world presents variables, such as stock market performance, that should cause you to temper such definite action.
As I wrote during a past stock market dive, ups and downs are unpredictable. Sometimes they're tied to inflation, interest rates and other economic events; other times a correction might be blamed on pandemics, war and natural disasters. The best response is to create a long-term plan for retirement income that will largely protect your income against negative shocks — but that can also be adjusted to current circumstances.
In other words, maybe the rate hikes will slow the economy and cause a correction in markets. Your increase in income from annuity payments might soften the blow.
Timing is Everything
Like many others, I advocate that you never try to time the market. In consultation with an adviser, and considering the many possibilities, you might decide you will add annuity payments to your income. At the same time, you might decide to make several purchases spread over a year or more.
A well-prepared plan for retirement income will let you choose from many scenarios that you design. It will also help you choose a mix of income sources to ensure that your risk is spread over many investment types, both safe and a little risky. We want your savings to produce enough income to last the rest of your life and meet your legacy and other goals.
If making all those decisions sounds complicated, I also consistently advise consumers to develop their plans with the help of professionals. At Go2Income, we can provide you with a complimentary personalized plan that delivers both a high starting income and growing lifetime income, as well as long-term savings.


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Random music news for Monday, August 17, 2020
The bad news is that August is more than half over. The good news is that we're closer to the end of this godawful year. Let's move to music news August 17, 2020
- Coronavirus update 1: Well, I guess this is the cost of doing business these days.
- Coronavirus update 2: Liverpool's Cavern Club, The Beatles' most famous hometown venue, could be in jeopardy.
- Coronavirus update 3: Stadium concerts in 2020? Not likely, says the WHO.
- Coronavirus update 4: Skipper to the rescue!
- Coronavirus update 5: Facebook has unveiled paid livestreams for creators.
- Really? You were irritated by the music this much?
- If you must have Kanye news, go here and here.
- And Kanye says he's now worth US$5 billion.
- Here's a good where-are-they-now story about Kate Piersen of the B52s.
- Ever wanted to know how a Hollywood movie is scored? Read this.
- Interested in how the music industry really works? Check out this new book.
- Looking forward to a UB40 reunion? Probably not gonna happen because of bad blood and hurt feelings.
- Want: The world's smallest ham radio can fit on a keychain. It'll be handy when the full force of the Apocalypse finally hits.
- A new study says that one-third of all TikTok users are under 14. In other words, children.
- And Donald Trump has demanded that TikTok be sold by November 12.


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There's nothing like record-level unemployment to send job seekers back to the drawing board.
With millions of Americans out of work amid the coronavirus pandemic, or fearful that their industry may never recover, many are giving serious thought to a new line of work. Others, who are still collecting a paycheck but working from home, are reevaluating their work-life balance.
"A lot of my clients are just using this time to figure out what they want and to get ready for going back to work in person," said Lynn Berger, a career counselor and coach in New York, who works with professionals contemplating a career change. "I just think a lot of people have been hunkered down for a while, and they are examining what it is they want from their career."
The national data bear that out.
Roughly 61 percent of U.S. workers who are looking for work report that they have broadened their search to a new industry due to the pandemic, and roughly one-third said they view learning new technical skills as key to landing their next job, according to a recent Morning Consult survey commissioned by Amazon.
Some 27 percent of respondents expect that some or all of their job skills will become irrelevant in the next five years, and roughly half said they would quit their current job to go to a different company if the new employer provided company-funded skills training. Most job seekers surveyed were attempting to transition into fields with stronger growth potential, including health care and technology.
"With stores and shops forced to close, it made many retool their resume or skill set or even consider careers in a completely different field in which they would normally seem overqualified for," said Harris Fishman, chairman of Coastal Wealth in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. "Some of my clients have deleted their advanced degrees from their resumes to increase the probability of being hired for lower-paying jobs, so as not to be passed over as 'overqualified.'"
The costs
Changing careers can be a great way to protect your job security, if demand for your skill set is on the decline, but it can also be a costly affair, especially if you are forced to start back down on the bottom rung of the professional ladder for less pay.
A lower salary will likely crimp your lifestyle today. It could also limit your ability to save for future long-term financial goals, including retirement and college tuition for your kids.
The financial implications of a career change are greater still if you quit your job (resulting in a short-term loss of income) and take on loans so you can go back to college for a different (or first-time) degree. (Learn more: Can you afford a career change?)
For those reasons, Fishman said, it is often best to begin your search for a new career by exploring other employers or industries that may value the work experience and education you already have. Indeed, a few online training classes may be all you need to reposition your resume.
"If someone who is a chef in a restaurant is now learning to be a roofer or landscaper, this changes their experience level, and thus, their pay," said Fishman. "It would be easier to stay in the same industry and gain additional experience, certifications, or licenses than to change completely."
Bear in mind that the cost of retooling your skill set may be less (or free) if your employer offers benefits that reimburse for continuing education. Typically, those benefits only apply to coursework that relates to your job. And, in some cases, reimbursement for college credits may be tied to a commitment to remain with that employer for a minimum number of years.
Another way to potentially offset the cost of starting anew? You may have a stay-at-home spouse who would be willing to rejoin the workforce to supplement your household income, at least during the years when you experience an income drop. If you're going back to college, you could potentially juggle classes while serving as the primary caregiver for your kids.
Researching careers
As you consider alternate career paths, take a moment to define your goals. Perhaps you seek better job security, more work-life-balance, or a fatter paycheck.
The career options you explore should, at the least, check those boxes.
Next, do some research to determine job growth prospects in the fields you feel are a fit, and identify possible employers that are located within a reasonable commute. If none exist locally, would you be willing to relocate?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides an "Occupational Outlook Handbook" that provides an in-depth analysis of hundreds of careers, including industry growth projections, median annual wages, education level required, work environment, and a summary of daily job responsibilities.
"By 2029, the last of the baby boomers will have turned 65 and, as a result of the aging population, the job market of the future is likely to slow somewhat in certain industries, while rapidly growing in other sectors," said Fishman. "Manufacturing jobs, for example, may slow due to advances in robotics and technology, while anything related to the health industry — such as nurses, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, and lab technicians — are likely to continue to be in high demand. I believe our industry, including financial analysts and financial planning, have tremendous opportunities for growth, as well."
Finally, reach out to your personal and professional network to connect with others who are already working in that field(s). Ask them for their perspective on the pros and cons (no weekend work, cranky clients) and for their insight on the types of personalities that tend to thrive in their work environment. If possible, ask if you can shadow them on the job for an afternoon, or volunteer in some way to get a better feel for the job.
Recasting your resume
If you are starting over in an entirely new career, it's a good idea to explain your new professional goals in your cover letter as you apply for jobs, especially if you don't yet have enough direct work experience.
Clearly define how your personality (people person, problem solver) and your existing skill set may benefit their organization, using the job description as your guide. Be specific.
Perhaps you previously managed concession stands for a major concert venue and are excellent at multitasking and customer service, or you balanced the books for a local restaurant, which demonstrates organization and reliability.
On your resume, emphasize your key strengths, work experience, and transferrable skills that would be most useful to that employer.
You should also communicate commitment to your new career by joining professional organizations, both in person (when available) and online, subscribing to trade publications in your quest to continue learning, and volunteering in the field where possible.
"If you've taken classes and done some volunteer work in the field, tell them that," said Berger. "They need to see that you are committed. You can simply explain that after X number of years in your prior field, you realize that these are the new skills you wish to deploy as a professional."
If you're among the millions who are weighing their options this year amid an unprecedented job market, and can afford to make a career change, now may be the time to put your plans into action.
"This is a wake-up call if you aren't satisfied with your career and it isn't going anywhere," said Berger. "Or, if you were satisfied, but can see that this job isn't going to work out long term, this is a good opportunity to learn something new and reassess."
Discover more from MassMutual…
Finding a financial pro during the pandemic
What the election, amid pandemic, means for the markets
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