Thread: Is anyone else feeling the economic slowdown?

I know this is a little off topic, but I was just curious how the economy and work was with everyone.

I live in Los Angeles County and work in the entertainment industry. I am a freelance artist, I building sets, props, models and scenic art for film and tv ads. For myself and a lot of people I know work has been slow for a long time now. I have been lucky to work fairly steady up until May, but now work is getting very thin. In fact there is very little work going on right now. My jobs lately consist of a few days of work here and a few days of work there, and a lot of insecurity in-between.
Last month I probably only worked half the month. I don't think July will be much better.
When I do work I have noticed the morning rush hours are still busy, but less crowded then usual.
I am really starting to worry.
I was just curious if any one else is feeling the slow down.

Yes Greginla I am in Orange County and traffic is still bad, some restaurants are always crowded but alot of small businesses are closing. The commercial real estate seems to really be lagging. I think this state is the tip of the iceberg and it is melting at an accelerated pace.

wilma1, Has any thing changed in your field of business?
What else are you observing?

I mean I know my line of work is kind of weird. I like it, but it is not for people who need a lot of stability.

I guess I am trying to get an understanding of the state of the economy. Is it bad out there or is this just a lot of hype we are hearing.

I am starting to notice quite a few vacant stores in the local strip malls.

As far as our spending goes, we haven't changed things much until this month. Now we are barely paying for our necessities. We are stopping all other kinds of purchases. Even if I get steady work, I won't be buying anything except food, I have to recoup the money I have lost because of the lack of work.

Missouri is the same stores closing all over, most of the restuarants are slowing down. Heck I have been out of work for almost 4 years.I am afraid it will get worse before it gets better.

YES, my cat's food has gone up $4 over the last year. It's the inflation I'm feeling!

I've also saved the same $400 about three times and had to spend it on something essential, instead of what I saved it for. Ahhhhhhh!

Dixie

Here in Illinois is about the same as the rest of the nation. Lots of people loosing jobs and others having to take pay cuts. (Myself included – cut 10%)

Actually from the news I understand the top three states failing are California, New York, and Illinois.(In that order) So we are watching you folks out west. So good luck, for if California starts the preverbal “snowball down hillâ€

greginLA, most definitely it is being seen and felt here in Texas. Austin is one of the better places to find a job but I can tell you that the economy here is tanking. Lots of houses for sales, few jobs, slow retail sales. If it's bad here, I can imagine what it must be like in other states!

I too live in los Angeles county.I own and operate a small business that
was founded by my Grandfather and Great Grandfather in 1927.We are in the Structural pest control business.I took over the business from my Father who did the same.How is business you ask,how about down sixty percent.The majority of my business is generated through real estate
sales,which of course have been in the dumpster for the last year or so.
I have had to cancel my my health insurance along with my sisters,guess what that was costing a year,close to eighty seven hundred dollars.I have never had to face financial difficulties before,it is kind of scary.I have run my corporate lines of credit as high as Everest and now
the majority of them have issued 'Dear John Letters''.
The cost of everything has gone crazy,example,this afternoon i am going to do a little repair job on a deck in Manhattan Beach.Yesterday i went to the lumber yard and purchased 3 2x4x12' redwood and 1 2x2x8
redwood.Guess what 4 pieces of redwood cost,try 54 dollars.I find it amazing that a 12'2x4 costs more than an ounce of silver!
So,that's my sob story,give up?,Hell No!!!!

I see alot of businesses closing in Idaho..one of our problems is we are getting a lot of illegals from Washington driving over here for the day and taking construction, landscaping etc. work from Idahoans...I know this because my son has a concrete business and he can not compete with the bids coming out of wash.

Inflation is terrible and their are 35,000 Idahoans on unemployment, don't know how many's benefits have run out, they don't like to report that!

I just don't understand how they can not enforce our laws and stop with the Visa's already!

Lots of business closing in Colorado and HUGE for sale signs on property and houses that have been for sale for months. Lots of unemployed and Lots of foreclosed properties and more homeless than I have ever seen. Also more crime and edgy people, I would not want to work at a convenience store or a bank right now since they seem to be targeted the most for robberies.