Use of leverage is way up

	August 2011 Total Contract Volume	August 2010 Total Contract Volume	August Total Contract % Change vs. 2010	YTD. Avg. Daily Contract 2011	YTD. Avg. Daily Contract 2010	Avg. Daily Contract % Change vs. 2010
Equity Options	501,947,732	262,234,107	91%	17,193,490	14,145,555	22%
Index Options	48,101,675	21,253,003	126%	1,353,037	1,194,173	13%
Total Options	550,049,407	283,487,110	94%	18,546,527	15,339,727	21%
Equity Futures	507,238	407,036	25%	14,496	21,547	-33%
Index / Other Futures	4,284,314	1,233,881	247%	155,333	79,319	96%
OOF	1,504	287	424%	28	22	27%
Total Futures	4,793,056	1,641,204	192%	169,857	100,888	68%
Total Volume	554,842,463	285,128,314	95%	18,716,384	15,440,615	21%

Above data is from OCC.
Moral of the story? Leverage has reached new highs, as a trading system, and as a society, nothing has been learned and perhaps nothing will be learned until a greater trial is prepared.