In actual dollars, how does the amount of money spent on the U.S. military every year compare to the amount spent by other countries?

The 15 nations that spent the most, in inflation-adjusted dollars, on their militaries in 2015, along with spending as a percentage of gross domestic product, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute:

United States — $596 billion; 3.3 percent.

China — $215 billion; 1.9 percent.

Saudi Arabia — $87.2 billion; 13.7 percent.

Russia — $66.4 billion; 5.4 percent.

United Kingdom — $55.5 billion; 2 percent.

India — $51.3 billion; 2.3 percent.

France — $50.9 billion; 2.1 percent.

Japan — $40.9 billion; 1 percent.

Germany — $39.4 billion; 1.2 percent

South Korea — $36.4 billion; 2.6 percent.

Brazil — $24.6 billion; 1.4 percent.

Italy — $23.8 billion; 1.3 percent.

Australia — $23.6 billion; 1.9 percent.

United Arab Emirates — $22.8 billion; 5.7 percent.

Israel — $16.1 billion; 5.4 percent.

l

Online: www.sipri.org.

Sign means drivers must give way

Can you please explain to the public about a yield sign? To my knowledge, yield means to yield to oncoming traffic. That means to stop if you have to.

“The YIELD sign assigns right-of-way to traffic on certain approaches to an intersection,” reads the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

“Vehicles controlled by a YIELD sign need to slow down to a speed that is reasonable for the existing conditions or stop when necessary to avoid interfering with conflicting traffic.”

l

Online: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov.

Depository holds 147M ounces of gold

Is there still gold at Fort Knox?

According to a U.S. Mint fact sheet, the Fort Knox Bullion Depository, southwest of Louisville, Ky., holds 147.3 million ounces of gold.

More from the fact sheet:

“The only gold removed has been very small quantities used to test the purity of gold during regularly scheduled audits. Except for these samples, no gold has been transferred to or from the Depository for many years.”

“The gold is held as an asset of the United States at book value of $42.22 per ounce.”

“The Depository opened in 1937; the first gold was moved to the depository in January that year.”

“Highest gold holdings this century: 649.6 million ounces (December 31, 1941).”

“Size of a standard gold bar: 7 inches x 3 and 5/8 inches x 1 and 3/4 inches.”

“Weight of a standard gold bar: approximately 400 ounces or 27.5 pounds.”

“No visitors are permitted, and no exceptions are made.”

l

Online: www.usmint.gov.

l

The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.