Stock-market meltdown made simple

It's generally hazardous to extrapolate too much from one day's numbers. Stock prices are inherently volatile, and Monday's selloff can set the stage for Tuesday's rally. Having said that, I think it's safe to say that traders around the world have finally realized just how shaky the U.S. economy really is. The New York Times has a handy infographic that shows just how bad it is out there:

The question everyone is asking now is, just how much does the rest of the world depend on continued U.S. growth? We'll have some expert answers from Harvard economist and National Bureau of Economic Research chief Martin Feldstein later this week. But for now, the markets have weighed in, and it doesn't look good.