Statistically insignificant

Rico says there's much hoohah about the 'rush' to buy gubs, but the stats don't bear it out:

1999....9,138,123
2000....8,543,037
2001....8,910,191
2002....8,454,322
2003....8,481,588
2004....8,687,671
2005....8,952,945
2006....10,036,933
2007....11,177,335
2008....12,709,023

Sure, the numbers are up, but not dramatically; given the increase in population, it might even be a flat curve...