Federal spending: up, up and away.

Federal spending is growing at rates not ever seen before. Last year, the federal government increased spending on domestic programs by 9.3 percent, to $2.79 trillion--or $9,184 per person living in the United States, according to the Census Bureau. Not all Americans shared equally in the spending largess. Federal per capita spending was highest for Virginia at $15,256, Maryland $13,829 and Alaska at $13,730. It was lowest in Utah at $6,255, Nevada at $6,638 and Wisconsin at $7,132.

The federal government spent $575 billion in grants in 2008 and $514 billion on procurement (or 18 percent of total federal spending). The cost of the federal workforce was $254 million, or 9 percent of total federal spending, but that included the U.S. Postal Service, which accounted for 25 percent of federal employees. The total cost for federal and military pensions: $103 billion. Veterans benefits for retirement and disability totaled $39 billion. Spending for unemployment compensation was $40 billion.

To view the Census Bureau's "Consolidated Federal Funds Report For 2008" go to http://www.census.gov/govs/cffr/.

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