The following is calculated from the GHCN (Global Historical Climatology Network) dataset.
GHCN Monthly

In terms of single years:
2009 is the 7th warmest year; 2007 is #1 & 2005 is #2. The margin between 2007 and 1998 (#3) is larger than between 1998 & 2001 (#10).

The 12 year span 1998-2009 contains 11 of the hottest years on record. 2000 is the outlier, with 1990 & 1995 being respectively warmer.

Using the 5 year moving average:
2009 is the 2nd warmest year; 2007 was insignificantly warmer - global averaged value is 2 thousandths of a degree greater.

The 12 year span 1998-2009 contains the 12 hottest years on record; 1998 is #12. The 21 year span 1989-2009 contains the 21 hottest years on record.

Using the 30 year moving average:
2009 is the warmest year, with the past 22 years (1988-2009) being the warmest years on record in exact sequential order. The temperature has been consistently increasing for 31 years, since 1979. The average annual increase over this span is 4x the average annual increase of the previous record , 69 years.

The previous longest consistent run was 20 years (1930-1949), including the single year dip it ran 30 years (1920-1949).

Using the decades as static averages:
The 2000s are the warmest decade on record by a larger margin than the 1990s were warmer than the 1980s.