[dukman]

Is it getting better? I really don't know. Is it getting worse? Again, hard to tell.... There are so many vacant storefronts around town it is impossible to keep track. I noticed some renovation work on one place that was closed up 7? years ago, then again I just noticed another shop down the street was closing up. The only things I know for sure is that my laid-off state worker friends are still laid off, and the parking lot at my apartments isn't as full as it was 6 months ago.

At my job the sales haven't been hurting that much... but they keep insisting to cut hours. There have been some stupidly long lines at the registers, think Christmas length, but they keep trying to cut hours. I guess maybe some of the other 3,000 stores aren't doing as good. Someone said they are trying to keep the profits up, which wouldn't surprise me. The company I work for isn't known for being generous.

[JOHN LEE PETTIMORE]

Here in atlanta Ga things are bad.Nobdy hiring most companys laying off still.My 401k is going down about 500.00 a month.People something has got to give.Someone going to have to man up a lead us out of this mess.I wish I new who it was going to be.

[Unswydd]

Originally Posted by cosmic cowboy

Here in N.W. Indiana there use to be 30 trucking jobs in the Sunday paper, now there's 1 or 2 .

I noticed that too in our local paper. Where there used to be 3 or 4 pages front and back of jobs there were at last count 9 jobs period advertised. That's in Illinois. There was only 1 trucking job.

[carolina168181]

Most people are shopping at the discount/no frill grocery stores-like Aldis and Walmart.But,customers will shop at the regular grocery store ,IF there is a sale.This 4th of July,my store exceeded store projections by $70,000USD and the store is in a more well-to-do part of town.
I've seen more people riding bicycles,mopeds and motorcycles.The thrift shops are doing a brisk business as well as yard sales.The car repair shop,I do business with ,are super busy.People are repairing and not replacing their cars.

[Omegaman]

Here in southern seacoast Maine & NH. the summer jobs would take up 4or 5 pages of help wanted, heck landscaping alone would take up 1 page. Sundays paper help wanted is lucky if it can now fill 1 page. There are also 5 times as many pages of houses for sale also this time of year every little shop or eatery would have help wanted signs and I have not seen a 1. Most of the strip malls have mostly empty store fronts. The summer people are not spending money they say between fuel and hotel costs they are tapped out and they are just lucky to be able to get away.

[Dang]

I work for a very large Financial Services firm (Retirement) and we are starting to see signs of life. Our industry got really beat up and there were times when I thought I would be working side by side with my son at the pizza place where he works.

But we are starting to see people come back to the retirement investing, which is a huge thing as a lot of trust was lost during those really bad news days. Not that there is a 180 degree turnaround, but we are seeing signs and we can only hope the wind stays at our back.

Sacramento CA is doing as well as can be expected, but was so hard hit by the realestate market it will be some time before it completely recovers. Fortunately for this metro area it has a diverse business base and in the end will still be left standing after this is all behind us. Now the question is, will I be still standing? We'll see

[snowshoe67]

Here In Maine Well%$@#! Not good!!! Mills,stores,The logging all hurting! The Damm State Government (John B) has cause a bee hive here, Moving jobs out of Maine to Other states I sorry! Maine people are hard working not saying other people are not but It's a shame to see this happen, I blame The States Government and Fed. Govenment on this bee hive, No No Need of the %&*@,My small Guide service 1 trip maybe 2 this year,2 years ago 10! No Money !!! Thanks Ron Good to Vent!!!!

[lpm67]

Here in New Zealand we are still hearing of major layoffs. We have had a massive influx of Kiwis returning after being the first to be laid off in Oz. Increased enrolments in Tertiary studies but our local paper is reporting increases in house sales (go figure) even though house prices are still way too high for Mr and Mrs Average. 45% increase in bankruptcies in last year but settling down now.
On a good note people are finally starting to think about how they are spending their money... not buying so much on finance but still buying (saving and paying cash instead). It used to be that around here if you made a big purchase and paid cash people looked at you as if you were a drug dealer or something now they look as if they are grateful that you shop with them.
Also people are starting to plant gardens to supplement their food bill.
We were having trouble with a layoff last year but we are back on track and doing better than ever and I must say I was really pleased that I had a seed and food stash that really helped at the worst times. And my kids finally get why I dont throw money at them everytime they want something...that everyone is in the same boat.
I hope all you guys and dolls are ok over where you are... I pray for a speedy end to our economy woes.

[Aussie_Tim]

Originally Posted by lpm67

Here in New Zealand we are still hearing of major layoffs. We have had a massive influx of Kiwis returning after being the first to be laid off in Oz.

Keep in mind, lots of places in Aus are using the economic downturn as en excuse to get rid of "dead wood" (not sayin that about people from NZ its everyone) or cutting hours from employees to better their revenue. There are plenty of places that are doing well in Aus, in particular Coles and Woolworths supermarkets and let me assure you, they are not hiring more people. More paying customers with same amount of costly staff = better profit.

Local job ads are only about 1 page in the local paper now, 3-4 years ago it was 5-6 pages of jobs. Things are not getting better here, despite what the labor government says.

[Roadracer]

Getting worse in PA. Another large company is closing their doors after 40+ years of business.

Things have slowed up here at work except for me. I do wreck estimates on Rigs (trucks) & I think that more & more people are rolling/totaling their trucks to get out of a $2,500+ a month loan that they can no longer afford.

That's my SitRep.

RR