I don’t think the economy is that bad right now. I am making more money than I ever have. It seems like everyone around me at my company is making a lot of money. We are billing more than ever and making more money than ever as a company. I see road construction everywhere. My girlfriend is a manager at a high end jewelry store and she is selling like crazy! When ever I travel I see fully booked hotels. I think people are talking recession because of the high price of gas. I guess maybe some people are feeling a recession but I am definitely not feeling anything but prosperity.


So why is the economy bad for you personally?

This is a good article showing how great our country is doing.....

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...dWo&refer=home

 

You're in Texas, home of big oil.
When Exxon makes 60 billion in profits in one quarter, some of it is gonna trickle down you and your girlfriend are seeing the effects of that.

Some of us farther away aren't seeing or feeling those effects. Though we can hear it, so we know that someone is getting trickled on.

 

Raoul is right, Texas has all the oil money and so it is doing much better than the rest of the nation is. Do a google search for the financial situation in Detroit.

 

I'm bitchin about you making 30 threads a day.

 

Big Man, you're obviously not in the construction industry. I know quite a few folks that were building houses that haven't worked in almost a year....at least building houses. Commercial work seems to be doing fine but it isn't the same game. My stepson sold his house in Detroit about 8 month ago and had to borrow $30,000 to sell it. It's not all good everywhere and in every industry. We've noticed a very marked decrease in traffic on the hiways and in towns. People aren't going like they were as the cost of gas is killing them. Restaurants, hotels, and the travel industry has seen a marked decrease in business. Be thankful that you're doing good.

 

Norhtern Ohio has been hit---I guess it could be worse, but several of the auto plants are at near shut-down levels, and Continental Airlines, which has a hub here at Cleveland Hopkins, is laying off 3000 nation-wide---purportedly 1200 here in Cleveland. Naturally, the real estate market is down---and building trades go with that.

Travel to Cedar Point (a big amusement park) is down---so much so that they actually dropped prices in mid-year.

We have lake Erie---a boater's paradise, and because of the high cost of fuel, fewer people are using their boats (and hence dockage, restaurants, etc,. this year.

Several good friends of mine own restaurants, and they say that, while business isn't bad, their weekend walk-ins a lower.

TSC

 

x2


BTW, this sure is an insensitive thread... i learned my lesson from my rant on gas prices... alot of people here arent doing so well and by posting this I guarantee you are putting alot of people on the defense!

 

I work for a small wholesale industrial electronics business. We have partnerships with six other stores across Tennessee and Kentucky but each store is independently owned. Since about 2003 our sales have been going down steadily. Last year had the biggest drop ever and this year isn't looking any better. Every store saw their sales decrease. Our store in Nashville has laid people off this year. Some of the slow down is due to the economy and plants closing, but some has to do with the changing ownerships of stores and the people who run them. A lot of the blame can go to some of the industrial plants who have pushed out some higher paying purchasers and hired young guys with less experience who would rather pay $5.00 for a fuse plus $10.00 freight on the internet than pay us $7.50 with no freight. Nobody at my store has received a pay raise in a little over two years but since the previous owner paid our health insurance, the current owner still pays it, so that is a huge plus. But since every thing has went up in prices, we are actually making less money. I wish the days of $6K-$10K bonus' would come back though. Now they're $1k-$2k. But I chose to work here so I can't complain that much and we do pretty good for ourselves for this area.

 

Yes I'm from Texas.........But just because Texas has alot of oil doesn't mean everyone in TX are doing good.......I don't care who you are, the economy isn't as good as it should be. There will always be a few who are doing better than others. I'm not saying it's as bad as the press let on, but it can be better.

My family has been farming rice for 5 generations now, mostly here in TX. My great great grandfather started farming in Louisiana in the 1800's and then moved to TX. My point is, with Diesel, fertilizer, seed, water prices going up and up it is extremley hard for us to even break even much less make a profit. It cost us almost $1000 to just fill up one tank in one tractor. They hold 250 gallons, but when you have to fill up every couple of days, it goes fast.

So if you think that just because someone lives in TX they are automatically better off, you are mistaken.

 

Being in Texas is a benefit; but, you also have to take into account the value of the dollar you're earning.


80% or so lower against the Euro since 2000.

 

I work in commercial roofing. I do inspections/estimates/consulting for companies like Walmart, CocaCola, and large property managment companies. I guess I am fortunate enough to position myself in a way that this so called recession doesnt affect me. Like I said earlier...I am doig better than I ever have. I am recieving bonuses on a consistent basis, I received a 6% salary increase this year, and my department is having all time record sales. I am actually hoping the housing market tanks even lower in the next year or so. I plan n bying a house in the next 1-2 years and it would be nice to purchase one while the prices are way down.

 

[QUOTE=Odin's Wrath;3263626]Being in Texas is a benefit; but, you also have to take into account the value of the dollar you're earning.


80% or so lower against the Euro since 2000.



I agree, the dollar is significantly lower than other currency and it definitely doesn't buy what it used to. But, within a 30 mile radius of me that are probably 30 or more different chemical/oil refineries and plants. We STILL pay $4.65 for diesel and almost $4.00 for gas. We don't get any price break because the refinery that refines the gas/diesel is practically in my back yard!!!

 

#1 highest unemployment rate is MI. And that's because the auto industry has been hit so hard. We are almost double what TX is:

http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lis..._unemployment/

Detroit has been on a downward spiral since the 60's... We also rank as one of the highest foreclosure states as well. Try telling someone in Detroit that the economy isn't so bad. They'll shoot you...

 

I wouldnt want to live in Detroit. You can always move!

 

Nah... his post doesn't put me on the defensive side of things. It just seems a little narrow focused. Then again, we could all move to Texas