re: how is the economy in your area?

'How is the economy in your area?'

Drive down almost any beach front road in Florida and count the completed but almost empty condos, the almost completed but vacant condos, the half completed condos where weeds are growing up and there are no workers on site, the holes dug in the sand where new condo parking garages were going to be located under the condos that were never built.

Time shares? Forget selling one of those turkeys.

Residential RE for sale everywhere but little is selling and if the gov was not offering to help out with $8K, even less would be selling.

Jobs? Forget it. People are leaving the state in droves in search of jobs...I don't know where they are going. I met a couple at breakfast last Sun morning that had just moved here from Hammond La seeking work. I didn't rain on their parade and I wished them luck. Even the garbage collection company that used to run a continuous ad in the paper for help is turning away applicants. People working at fast food joints are getting about 22 hrs per week, and they are not hiring. The city and county have rolled back 2% pay increases for public workers this year. Nary a peep was heard from the workers...those who haven't been laid off are glad to have a job.

Anecdotally...I believe food prices are declining. I say this because Publix, Winn Dixie, and Wall Mart are offering lots of 2 for 1 deals and rolling back prices on many items.

What is selling well here? It's hard to find bullets at any price (Wal Mart especially...as soon as a shipment arrives it's sold out), same with guns.

Cheap beer is selling well.