Reply to: Anyone seen a recession yet?

[wc2]

Yesterday, I drove through a little village, the smell was awful - Burning rubber - Then I saw it....

Black smoke coming from a chimney.

Looks like one of the locals has switched from coal to old car tyres.

Extra tax on part worms imminent.

Doomed

[BrilloPad]

I see more posts on contractoruk than ever before.

nonsense

HTH

[Cyberman]

In Wales, farmers have reported a massive drop in sheep molestation.

People just can't afford the fuel to drive up into the hill country any more.

Farmers now intend to move the flocks into the lower pastures as an aid to the community.

The move has been hailed as a great benefit to the community by the sheep worriers society of Wales.

[topgun]

I see more posts on contractoruk than ever before.

[Diver]

In Wales, farmers have reported a massive drop in sheep molestation.

People just can't afford the fuel to drive up into the hill country any more.

Farmers now intend to move the flocks into the lower pastures as an aid to the community.

The move has been hailed as a great benefit to the community by the sheep worriers society of Wales.

[MarillionFan]

I've got to admit, there's a massive difference in Sunderland - has been noticable for the last 3 - 6 months.
Thursday and Friday nights the pubs are empty, and Saturdays are only marginally better.
Durham is exactly thr same.

So the very poor are being hit hard - spare cash which would have gone on drinking (in the North East that tends to be people's "treat" money) is now going on utilities/fuel costs/etc There's just no money left for pubs and entertainment.

There've been a few restaraunts and quite a few pubs close - scarey times.

Love it. Everyone else is looking at unemployment, SA is looking at booze and food. Classic.

[Diver]

Please don't tell me you are going to be here all week.

Result

[TykeMerc]

Don't try the veal either, it's crap.

[Clippy]

One of my cheques bounceed yesterday. "Insufficient Funds"

The banks must be in a really bad way

Please don't tell me you are going to be here all week.

[Diver]

One of my cheques bounced yesterday. "Insufficient Funds"

The banks must be in a really bad way

[Diver]

I lent my brother a tenner yesterday, it turns out I'm now listed Britain's fourth biggest lender

[TheBigYinJames]

Roseby's (bedding, curtains and the like) is having a closing down sale.

Roseby's is ALWAYS closing down.

[realityhack]

In Twickenham, several local shops are struggling and 6 have closed down. The butchers, grocers, a greetings cards shop, two gift shops and the toy store. Roseby's (bedding, curtains and the like) is having a closing down sale. It's not looking good on the high street here.

Some of the contractors at clientco are looking around and finding it difficult - mostly agencies fishing for leads or low paid work. One lad (who admittedly has quite a niche skillset) is only seeing permie jobs, no contract work around for his skillset.

[Fred Bloggs]

Yes I agree. We have held onto our 3 year old car instead of upgrading. The local dealer has called us to ask where were and why we weren't buying. That's £12k taken out of the local economy straight off.

We haven't booked a single holiday for next year, normally we would book two.

We spoke to a firm in Manchester last week about a Sky box repaired and the lady on the reception said they were getting made redundant next week.

Contractors have got laid off from local employers here in the NW. A friendly agency rang me last week asking if I had any warm leads, he said he had just 1 job on his books for the NW region. My rate is now being undercut by ~£10 an hour on the same job for new starters. This is the only job with any real prospects locally. Luckily I was in first so I have most of the "knowledge" sewn up. It's grim.

[Ivor Bigun]

I know it's big news, on the BBC news evey night, so it "must be true" but has anybody actually seen any sign of this recession yet? Personally, I mean.
.

Yep - seen loads. People I know are:
- buying / driving cheaper cars
- going on holidays less
- having less parties
- getting made redundant
- making "lifestyle" decisions - Selling and renting
- taking little jonny out of private education
- Buying second hand on Ebay

Of the people I know who have been made redundant, none have another job. a few have started temping (not in IT) on less than their permie rate.

Also, I've noticed:
- discretionary goods are cheaper - leather sofa for £400 etc
- Shops closing down
- Tradesmen easier to get hold of


I think this time, business owners are preparing for the downturn. Last time, everyone thought it was a "blip". They carried on too long and lost the lot. This time, people are shutting up shop well before and keeping their gains.

The economy is contracting - This is a recession and it will be a depression in a few years.