Economic recovery in your area

[bulrush]

Michigan here. No improvements. The news had stories about Sears, Target, and other chain stores offering bigger discounts NOW, as opposed to the day after Thanksgiving. The news said 40-60% off sales. No chains closing but many mom & pop stores closing in all areas including restaurants.

Michigan will be probably the slowest and longest to recover, if it ever does, due to its high dependence of manufacturing, particularly the auto industry. Some of the auto workers laid off will get their jobs back, but not all.

Cost of food (packaged and fresh) still rising. Why I don't know.

School budget being cut. The current proposal is each school will lose at least $165 per child. And the schools are already stretched to max due to the high wages demanded by the teachers union. This means more administrative cuts because the unions refuse to take pay freezes or pay or health insurance cuts.

Got a pay check last week. In it was a note that says we (my employer) will be switching health insurance provider because Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan wanted a 40% premium increase for the same policy. No kidding. I almost fell over.

[Pixelguy]

Folks, this is the "heads-up" thread for any signs of economic recovery. Read the thread title and post #1 please.

Bulrush, what you have written IS interesting, but out of place here. I and other read this thread daily for any signs of good news. There are other threads in this forum specifically for discussing all of the bad economic news, layoffs, etc.

Originally Posted by bulrush

Michigan here. No improvements. The news had stories about Sears, Target, and other chain stores offering bigger discounts NOW, as opposed to the day after Thanksgiving. The news said 40-60% off sales. No chains closing but many mom & pop stores closing in all areas including restaurants.

Michigan will be probably the slowest and longest to recover, if it ever does, due to its high dependence of manufacturing, particularly the auto industry. Some of the auto workers laid off will get their jobs back, but not all.

Cost of food (packaged and fresh) still rising. Why I don't know.

School budget being cut. The current proposal is each school will lose at least $165 per child. And the schools are already stretched to max due to the high wages demanded by the teachers union. This means more administrative cuts because the unions refuse to take pay freezes or pay or health insurance cuts.

Got a pay check last week. In it was a note that says we (my employer) will be switching health insurance provider because Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan wanted a 40% premium increase for the same policy. No kidding. I almost fell over.

[HaroldWayneHamlin]

Folks, this is the "heads-up" thread for any signs of economic recovery. Read the thread title and post #1 please

end quote.

If I understand correctly, this thread is only for GOOD news and we should not post anything negative here about the BAD situation in our area of living and working.

Well, if that be the case, I will respect the intent, However, looks like to me that we might as well shut down this thread as there appears to be no good news.

Eco Recovery Some Good News

1. CEO's who ran their companies into the ground, still get millions of dollars is pay and bonus pay.

2. People who lied and stole from investors, do not go to jail and they get to keep the money they stole and get to spend it by hiring out of work people for half price.

3. The governemnt is spending money left and right, running up the national debt to such hightest that it is destroying the dollar, BUT that is OK, because the world is going to a NEW WORLD CURRENCY. Very successfull in achievement

4. A lot of people burying their head in the sand so that the general populas do not get upset.

5. Massive amounts of gold and silver being stocked piled by the people who created this whole mess anyway. This means that they will have the means to pay the out of work people 10 percent of the wage that existed before the mess was created by them.

6. Only one company Makes, sells, programs and repairs the voting machines used to cast votes in elections now, so that in the future we, as a populace, do not have to go thur the "dangling chad" problems again.

SOUND LIKE TO ME WE ARE DOING JUST FIND. A LOT OF GOOD NEWS ON ECO RECOVERY IF YOU REALLY LOOK FOR IT.

later
wayne

[Alex (Rus)]

Originally Posted by Djin From Russia

Hi from Russia)

You all speak about crisis) You don't know what is crisis) in 1995 averege salary in Russia was 50$ per month) that was crisis) now it's about 400$.
...

Wait a little. In 3-5 years USA will collapse. You took Ukraine from us. Poland, Kazahstan, Estonia, Latvia, Gergia, Armenia, etc.. We will take California from you.. South states)) wait a little))

Man, what are you talking about?

That's the greatest our Russian society's problems: no matter who bad is your situation if only your neighbor things are worse.

Look at Tolyatti. The biggest Russian automobile plant is ruined. A lot of other plants are closed and there are a lot of unemployed people all over the country.

If US economy will fall our economy would follow immediately. And I'm absolutely sure that our situation could be much worse. I don't think that China economy is so solid that it will stand. Everything is connected and very vulnerable. That's why they meet at G20 -they all scared.

I don't think that it's right in this situation to pick on somebody. We're all in the same boat. So we should sail in the same boat too.

[anne36]

As of today no change. (mabye that is part of the "Change" Obama promised?) I read in the paper that our local unemployment is at 17.3 %. This is not state but Detroit/Livonia/Warren. Very signifigant being that it is a major economic indicator of no recovery and this is a key area to gauge the employment opportunities here in Michigan.

[anne36]

Oops sorry. I didnt get that until after I posted.

On a high note, my husband just started back to full time this week after 5 months.

[miller4546]

louisiana has had some state cut backs, but all in all, not effected by the recession/depression.

especially in my location

[farmkids42morrow]

In our area (western PA), people are still struggling to adjust to a different lifestyle. For example, I believe very strongly in buying used as much as possible so I always try to get what my family needs from Goodwill and other thrift stores first, buying new only as a last resort. In past years, most of the people I would see in Goodwill were...well, not exactly the same type of people you'd see in other stores. But now, there are tons of people very nicely dressed, hair done, etc. shopping there. I have personally seen people thank the cashier; they were so happy to be able to afford what they needed.

Now some may see that as a bad sign, but I personally don't. If the people in this country can learn to be frugal (I'm not totally convinced that's possible), and make the best of what they have, saving for big items and buying quality instead of cheap Walmart crap that breaks the next day - that will be a giant leap toward real recovery and real stability.

I guess it depends on how you define economic recovery. If we're going to continue chasing the "American Dream" of over-consumption, I don't think we're there. But a shift toward wiser spending, thinking before we buy, etc. (at least on the part of the people, not the higher-ups) yeah, I think we're on our way. We've had to make some changes (got rid of a vehicle, for instance) but I don't find myself or my family going without things we really need. We might not be able to buy them right away, but we get things we need a little at a time and don't expect otherwise.

Then again, my husband has a job. I would feel much less positive if he didn't. As tight as money is with a family of 6 on one income, it's a lot better than 6 on no income. I don't know how these folks do it.

[DanRS]

I'm a carpenter in MA, work has been slow but consistant. Lots of new foundations going in before the winter, people keep calling with jobs for the winter. So not great like the bubble but better than the last few winters.

[sara77]

Originally Posted by *****

Folks, this is the "heads-up" thread for any signs of economic recovery. Read the thread title and post #1 please.

Bulrush, what you have written IS interesting, but out of place here. I and other read this thread daily for any signs of good news. There are other threads in this forum specifically for discussing all of the bad economic news, layoffs, etc.

I guess I will put a spin on what I had intended to post.
The good news about the people in my area that continue to lose jobs is that they may decide to have a garden, spend less=make less waste, use it up, make it work or do without.
My area was slow to be hit and we just now seem to be wallering in the mire. We may be slow to recover. Maybe the good from that will be that neighbors will be closer like during the days of the depression.
I can't think of the good for the people I know that are losing their homes. Umm, maybe they will be closer to their family if they have to move in with them.