Is the economy really that bad?

[LuvDuke]

I guess the quesiton I want to ask is, everyone saying its so bad. Are you litereally close to be living out on the street? Do you have absolutely no money and no job and are really living in a very tough time?

Whenever I go to the stores, they are packed. you can't even get a seat in a resturant most of the time, and never get on on the weekends around here because they are so jam packed. The malls are jam packed especially on the weekends.

I guess I just don't understand it too much, people are spending money, going out to eat still traveling, and yet everyone is saying how hard the times are. Is it that people have to sacrafice a little bit and are used to such lavish lifestles that they thing all the worst now?

Thirty-five plus posts told you the economy really is that bad. Sorry you didn't get the answer you wanted.

Rule #1: Don't ask a question if you don't want to hear the answer.

FYI, the stores here are empty. The local Super WalMart has 3-5 cashiers on during the day and even those have only a few customers waiting.

 

[duckfan78]

Thirty-five plus posts told you the economy really is that bad. Sorry you didn't get the answer you wanted.

Rule #1: Don't ask a question if you don't want to hear the answer.

FYI, the stores here are empty. The local Super WalMart has 3-5 cashiers on during the day and even those have only a few customers waiting.

Listen, don't get wise. I am trying to have an honest discussion about the economy. Maybe here in my state things are different elsewhere. Just trying to get a grasp on things. Stop sitting there hounding me over every post I make.

 

[luvmy3]

I guess the quesiton I want to ask is, everyone saying its so bad. Are you litereally close to be living out on the street? Do you have absolutely no money and no job and are really living in a very tough time?

Whenever I go to the stores, they are packed. you can't even get a seat in a resturant most of the time, and never get on on the weekends around here because they are so jam packed. The malls are jam packed especially on the weekends.

I guess I just don't understand it too much, people are spending money, going out to eat still traveling, and yet everyone is saying how hard the times are. Is it that people have to sacrafice a little bit and are used to such lavish lifestles that they thing all the worst now?

My area is still growing. Granted the housing market has slowed but I see new businesses, and shopping plazas being built all over around here. I have been shopping for a new car (a specific SUV). I went to two dealerships and they both told me they can't keep them in stock. Stores and restaurants are packed, traffic is just as bad as it was before gas prices started to rise.
Personally, we are not close to living on the street, and I don't know anyone that is. I know there are people out there but I don't see it here. I also know on the National level the economy is not great, but I do believe that there are areas that are not as effected as others.

 

[luvmy3]

Thirty-five plus posts told you the economy really is that bad. Sorry you didn't get the answer you wanted.

Rule #1: Don't ask a question if you don't want to hear the answer.

FYI, the stores here are empty. The local Super WalMart has 3-5 cashiers on during the day and even those have only a few customers waiting.

The Super Walmart here is always packed. No spots in the huge parking lot and lines at the checkout. In fact I don't go down there becaues I spend 20 minutes trying to checkout, and that is with way more than 3 lanes open.
Give the OP a break, just because you and others see the effect of the economy doesn't mean we all do.

 

[LuvDuke]

Listen, don't get wise. I am trying to have an honest discussion about the economy. Maybe here in my state things are different elsewhere. Just trying to get a grasp on things. Stop sitting there hounding me over every post I make.

You got your answer and it was "Yes, the economy really is that bad". You didn't like the answers.

So then you go making assumptions that people falling on hard times must be living beyond their means.

Wrong: The economy really is in the toilet for a sizable group of people in this country and through no fault of their own.

Unemployment is up. Foreclosures are up. Gas is going up again. The cost of food is skyrocketing.

We've come full circle. The economy really is that bad.

 

[JimFitz]

The economy really is in the toilet for a sizable group of people in this country and through no fault of their own.

The majority of people feeling the pain is their own fault. The majority of foreclosures in the country right now are peoples own fault. Greed.

If it's not their fault, whose is it?

 

[momto2girls]

I guess the quesiton I want to ask is, everyone saying its so bad. Are you litereally close to be living out on the street? Do you have absolutely no money and no job and are really living in a very tough time?

Whenever I go to the stores, they are packed. you can't even get a seat in a resturant most of the time, and never get on on the weekends around here because they are so jam packed. The malls are jam packed especially on the weekends.

I guess I just don't understand it too much, people are spending money, going out to eat still traveling, and yet everyone is saying how hard the times are. Is it that people have to sacrafice a little bit and are used to such lavish lifestles that they thing all the worst now?

I know what you are saying. Clearly there are problems in our economy. No doubt about it. But I really don't see it in my area either. My family is definitely much, much better off than we were eight years ago. I personally don't have any friends or family that are struggling right now. The malls, restaurants, stores, etc. are always packed. I think that we're just very fortunate in our area.

I'm not surprised by the economy taking a downturn. I was expecting it. The economy is cyclical and we had a good economy for a really long time. Sadly, we're due for a correction.

 

[Briarmom]

But, I think it's ridiculous to think the economy is doing just dandy just because you aren't personally affected.

Just thought this point should be repeated.

 

[Kathi OD]

I was just wondering, if there was anyone else on here that didn't think the economy is that bad and actually pretty strong? I swear if I didn't listen to the MSM, and all their negativity in reguard to the economy, I would think our country was doing rather well.

First off, I work in manufacturing and I have to tell ya, we are more busy now, then we have been since before 9/11. We have so many orders we can't keep up. We have been trying to hire people also, and honestly, its hard to find anyone. Our company is in a very blue collar community also. And I know in a slow economy, manufacturing is the first one hit. And its not like we are consentrated in some high tech, niche field, we do make a product which is a commonly used product by OEM's and distributors.

I know everyone is talking about the raise in unemployment, but that number is still typcially low. And as for the housing market and mortages, I believe those problems came from people taking them who couldn't afford them and from companies giving money to people they knew could not afford to pay them.

I know gas prices are high, but without drilling for more oil, it won't come down without doing so.

So again, is there anyone out there that see it the same way I do?

While that may (or may not be), these problems have trickled down to the construction industry, and it's just not limited to the residential housing sector. Commercial construction is also down big time in many markets, adding to the woes. Many who were working in those sectors have lost their jobs, through no fault of their own, and there isn't much light at the end of the tunnel until the banking mess is straightened out.

The Super Walmart here is always packed. No spots in the huge parking lot and lines at the checkout. In fact I don't go down there becaues I spend 20 minutes trying to checkout, and that is with way more than 3 lanes open.
Give the OP a break, just because you and others see the effect of the economy doesn't mean we all do.

You and the OP might not be seeing a problem, but the majority of people are, and when most of the respondents say there is a problem, but the OP still doesn't want to see it, then, yeah, someone needs to point that out!

I've not waited in line in WalMart, Sam's, or Target in I don't know how long! Last Saturday at Sam's there were just 3 registers open and we didn't have to wait at all! I'd say that says something about the economy in this area of the country. As for restaurants, DH and I went out last night for the first time in about 3 months. For a Friday night, the place was dead. Not only was there no wait, but there were quite a few empty tables.

So while you and OP might not personally be seeing a problem, thank God for your blessings, because many, many others are not lucky enough to be in the same position.

The majority of people feeling the pain is their own fault. The majority of foreclosures in the country right now are peoples own fault. Greed.

If it's not their fault, whose is it?

Is it someone's fault when their employer shuts the doors? I dunno, seems to me that person is going to feel some pain that wasn't their own fault, and also something that they didn't see coming.

 

[JimFitz]

Is it someone's fault when their employer shuts the doors? I dunno, seems to me that person is going to feel some pain that wasn't their own fault, and also something that they didn't see coming.

Majority of credit card debt and foreclosures is not from people losing their jobs. Its from greed.

 

[hentob]

Majority of credit card debt and foreclosures is not from people losing their jobs. Its from greed.

I have to agree with this. I am sure there are many , many responsible people who lost their jobs and are now suffering

But, I am sure there are just as many that ran their credit cards up, bought homes that they could not afford and never put away for the current rainy days

Just look at these boards "I have no money, but I'll find a way to WDW!" "I NEED a vacation" And "You only live once!" are battle cries heard often

 

[punkin]

Majority of credit card debt and foreclosures is not from people losing their jobs. Its from greed.

Do you have any data at all to back this up?

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Why do the staunch conservative always blame every Democrat president and refuse to look at the facts?

Deficit spending means nothing to them in a federal sense but they claim to be fiscally conservative. Maybe in their own personal world they are but federally?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_debt_by_U.S._presidential_terms

"Intellectual dishonesty" comes to mind...

 

[Ilovemylife]

Yes, it is bad.

Glad your plant hasn't been having problems. We have had many plants close around here. And there are many expected layoffs during layoff season (November and December).

Same here.

People are losing their houses left and right and stores are closing at an incredible rate (big chains and Mom and Pop stores).

Inflation is the highest it's been in almost 20 years, gas prices are at record highs, my DH's 401K is in the toilet (he's lost hundreds of thousands of dollars out of it in the last two years), the housing market is dead (around here, anyway), and the value of the dollar is horrible when compared to other world currency.

Yeah, I'd say that doesn't look so rosy.

 

[okeydokey]

Yes the economy is that bad. Things have been very tough in my family with the rise in gas and food prices. I'm glad you are doing well but please don't assume that because it's true for you it must be true for everyone.

 

[tar heel]

More idiocy on the CB... We've worked our butts off for 30+ years, and "living out on the street" is not my definition of what it would take to say the economy is bad.

My DH's company is laying off people right and left and our investment accounts have lost the equivalent of a year's income, and IT'S TOTALLY OUR FAULT according to a couple of you. It must have been b/c we lived on a budget, skipped our vacation this year and go to work every day. Good grief.

We have a prime mortgage for about 50% of our house, so we obviously wouldn't lose money on it, but we'd have a heck of time selling it right now b/c the housing difficulties have finally hit our hot area.

The economy is in the tank, and with the credit/housing crisis coupled with this billion-dollar-a-week war and deficit, we're not going to get "all clear" any time soon.

 

[Ilovemylife]

Anyone is one catastrophic illness away from being in debt or being "on the street".

And I don't care if you're a multi-millionaire with great insurance ~ you're still only one catastrophic illness away from being on the street.

 

[tar heel]

The two "great economists" on this thread are really insulting Americans who, through absolutely no fault of their own, are in a financial mess. We're lucky b/c we have savings, health insurance and disability insurance and could weather a lot of storms and help our children do the same. This is the first time we've ever been even worried finanically -- it's bad. But we're worried about retirement, not putting food on the table. A lot of Americans aren't so lucky.

Both of my parents used to work in plants in North Carolina. Of course, they made barely above minimum and could BUY health insurance for a week's pay. They couldn't do it now, though, even if they weren't in their 70s b/c those plants are long gone. Couldn't have been the economy,though.

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

The majority of people feeling the pain is their own fault. The majority of foreclosures in the country right now are peoples own fault. Greed.

If it's not their fault, whose is it?

 

[floridafam]

I don't see the doom and gloom that is often talked about on tv.

We aren't losing our home, DH has a very stable job, our bills are paid and we have excellent health insurance. Both political parties talked about everything being "broken" during the conventions and I have to say that I just don't see it.

We bought a house we could afford, we took out a fixed mortgage at a very low rate because of good credit. We don't go hog wild with credit cards, we save for a rainy day.

We pay a sizeable amount for health coverage through DH's employer but, in return, we get excellent health coverage. I hear complaints all the time from friends who expect to pay nothing for their health coverage yet they want the best.

I don't think we should be bailing out the mortgage industry, the automakers or anyone else for that matter. What is the incentive for people to be fiscally responsible if they know they'll get bailed out?

My entire family is in Michigan and it is tough up there but they can weather the storm because they plan and live responsibly.

I have been to the mall recently and they are not as busy as they used to be but the restaurants down her are packed-much like in the OP's case. It must have something to do with the large retiree population down here. Most of them are in an excellent place financially and would agree that they don't see the economy being in as much trouble as everyone says it is.

Sure, there are hundreds of houses for sale here that have been sitting unsold for months but many of those were purchased during the boom 3 or 4 at a time by investors who weren't thinking straight and now they can't unload them.

Yes, milk and gas cost more now along with many other staples but we've adjusted. I plan my driving more carefully, my DD rides her bike to school, I shop sales, etc.

That's my two cents.