392 replies to this topic

[Grace&Violets]

But, we've been out of the recession for over a year!!

http://www.msnbc.msn...on_the_economy/

[ScrubbieLady]

So, do we believe this? Very convenient timing. I don't know about them but around here, the recession is still in full swing and in some areas, seems to be getting worse. Two weeks ago, I had my worst day yet at the farmer's market. Barely paid for my space and my gas. I thought, okay, sometimes we have a bad day. This past week, there was a festival on the same square and LOTS of people milling around. Unfortunately, most of them were just milling around and accepting the free items but buying very little except for some lemonade (it was HOT) and maybe a polish sandwich or funnel cake. So, I just revised my worst day yet at the farmer's market. It was much worse (if that is possible) than the week before. Some people had decent days but no one had a really good day among the farmer's market people.

[K_L]

Definetly red flags
http://www.cbc.ca/mo...1300-ounce.html
http://www.cbc.ca/mo...s-fed-cnbc.html

the first

Gold futures hit another record high Friday — breaking above $1,300 US an ounce as investors piled into the precious metal as a perceived safe haven.Gold prices have gained 18 per cent so far this year as investors flee paper currencies.

The December futures contract for bullion surged as high as $1,301.30 US an ounce in morning trading in New York. It had slipped back to 1,298.50 US by 11 a.m. ET.

Gold got a boost after France reported better-than-expected GDP figures, strengthening the euro and tamping down the U.S. dollar. Gold is priced in U.S. dollars, so a weaker American currency makes it cheaper for those outside the U.S. to buy gold.

It was the fourth day of record gold prices this week. Bullion prices, which have risen 18 per cent this year, have recorded gains for 10 straight years. That's the longest winning streak since 1920, Bloomberg reported.

Investors and speculators have been flocking to gold as an alternative to paper currencies amid growing worries about the health of the global economy.

"Gold has started to trade as another currency," Scotia Capital currency strategist Camilla Sutton told CBC News. "We've seen that noticeably in the last few weeks, but it's been an underlying theme all year."

Silver hit a new 30-year high on Friday. It was trading at $21.40 US an ounce — its highest level since the Hunt brothers of Texas tried to corner the silver market in 1980. At that time, silver prices hit $50 US an ounce.

Silver prices are up 27 per cent year-to-date, outperforming gold.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/mo...l#ixzz10T7T4Jtk


the second

Carney alert for signs of U.S. downturn
Last Updated: Friday, September 24, 2010 | 12:54 PM ET Comments53Recommend30.
CBC News
Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney said Friday any decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve to increase the American money supply would not result in the two countries' monetary policies heading in opposite directions.

Interviewed on New York-based CNBC, Carney said the same changes in the economic outlook that would lead to moves by the American central bank would also prompt the Bank of Canada to change from its recent course of raising interest rates.

Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, shown in July, says the bank is ready to ease monetary policy if the economic outlook deteriorates. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
Carney said if the economy weakens, "then we'll deal with the direct consequences."

"Obviously, we'll adjust monetary policy to Canadian circumstances. There are limits to the divergence that there can be between Canada and the U.S."

The Federal Reserve said Tuesday it would continue to monitor the economic outlook and "is prepared to provide additional accommodation if needed to support the economic recovery."

That was widely seen as a sign the Fed is prepared to expand the use of its $2.3-trillion balance sheet to more aggressively buy U.S. treasury bonds in a move to push interest rates lower to encourage bank lending to business and consumer spending.

Carney said recent signs of American economic weakness are of "some concern" to Canada, given that 85 per cent of this country's exports go to the U.S., and the extent to which both the housing and auto industries in both countries are tied to each other.

Corrections and Clarifications
•An earlier version of this story had the headline "Bank of Canada ready to match U.S. Fed." To clarify, Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney did not say the central bank would match U.S. monetary policy but said there were limits to how far the two countries' policies would diverge.


Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/mo...l#ixzz10T78Wu8P

[nini2033a]

I do most of my shopping a the local commissary. In an area where they do not double coupons, I usually get the best prices for most things there. I always buy my dog food there. Usually a can of Alpo runs 50 cents. 2 months ago, I found about 60 cans in the clearance aisle where they take 20% off, so I walked out with all the cans for 38 cents. Lovin' it. So now, 2 months later, I am starting to get low on dog food. Yesterday we went to the commissary again and I was vaguely noticing that things seemed to be a bit higher than I expected. I hit the dog food aisle, and the cans that I normally got for 50 cents are now 76 cents each! (Only 2 months later!)
I know that the other prices have gone up, but not exactly how much. I also know that the commissary is usually a great deal for us. We buy center cut bacon for $2.50 and the same package goes in the local Fred Meyers store for over $4, so I know I am getting a great deal even without a coupon.
How are people supposed to afford healthy food?
Thankfully here we have the Boutiful Baskets program. If you live in an area with it, you should definitely check it out to help stretch your food budget. http://www3.bountifulbaskets.org/

[zophiel]

Okay, so I saw a sign today, while running errands, that I never thought I'd see, outside of a History book.It was hung on the fence around a construction jobsite:

NO!
We Are Not
Hiring!
Move on

and then the same message repeated (I think) in Spanish.
This is, mind, in what I refer to as the Well-Padded-Bottom of the Federal Gov't, where yeah, things have gotten tough, but everyone knows it's worse pretty much everywhere else.

I was driving at the time, or I would have snapped a pic of it to share. It just reminded me of the pictures of billboards from the Great Depression, advertising that there was no work in the town, and drifters had to keep drifting. . .

Mom said her work had a job fair yesterday, and she ran into one of the people who came on the elevator. He was dressed nicely, carefully clutching a neatly printed resume, and looked like he was about to break into tears. Being the concerned Mom and Nurse that she is, she asked what was wrong. Apparently, he'd come early, waited in line for hours, but the line never moved, he never got in to where the job fair was, and so never even got to submit his resume. Mom said his English, although heavily accented, was good, and he'd clearly come trying to make a good impression. So she told him how to come back to human resources the next day (today), and use one of the computers they have set up to look for and apply for jobs. This is the trick that will get his resume in ahead of the others. Apparently, they had expected no more than 100 to show up, and they got way more.

It's becoming apparent even to the "normals" ( ) that the newspapers and the lot are lying. Many people are noticing the disparity between what is reported, and what they see. They say the recession hasn't hit this area (thanks to the Fed. Gov'ts well-padded-bottom), but there are plenty of signs that point otherwise. They can only hide things for so long, and the longer it is, the harder the rest of those cards will fall. Yes, it hasn't hit as bad, but it has hit. And if things are to get better for the rest of the country, I think it's gonna have to get a lot worse here, first.

So, not the red flags some have to deal with, but there are small signs even here.

[shannsmom]

We live in a quiet little southern county, with a crime rate that usually makes us happy we don't live somewhere else. But this week, we had 2 DOUBLE homicides, so 4 murders in a couple of days instead of a couple of months, 2 of which were in the rural farming area. They appear to be a result of the increase in drug use and unemployment. We have a lot of businesses going under, some say due to the oil spill, but I think it's the economy in general. We've always been one of the poorest counties in FL, so we had very little wiggle room before people really hurt.

[The MacKinnon]

Shannsmom, we had something like that in the county where I teach and this crime was grisly: an Army recruiter, estranged (if not divorced) from his wife, went to his girlfriend's house and killed her and her 2 children (not his, but their father is in jail in a neighboring county on drug charges). Anyway, their bodies were dismembered and stuffed into sacks in the closet.

Local police and investigators are not used to such crimes. I think right now, they're trying to blame PTSD on the murders. People are stunned.

[TurtleMama]

Oh my Lord....there are no words

for those precious children...and their mother of course...that God has gathered them into his arms and they know only mercy and the joy of His love.

[okiecountrygirl]

Wow, I was just reading on another forum about a food stamp cut (TB2K) and it was one of the saddest threads I've read in a while. It was mostly older people talking (probably 60's-80's). There are a lot of people out there who are holding on by a thread. That thread is going to keep me awake tonight I think. I see in my area there are a lot of people who need help but actually refuse it (kindly), thinking other people need it worse than they do. It breaks my heart to think people in their 80's can't afford food, doctors, dentists and medicine that they need. Thankfully, most of the people on the forum thread still have gardens, can everything they find and are gladly talking roadkill in some cases so they can have meat. I came away knowing I'm truly blessed and I need to make sure I'm able to help where it is needed.

[FunkyPioneer]

Wow, I was just reading on another forum about a food stamp cut (TB2K) and it was one of the saddest threads I've read in a while. It was mostly older people talking (probably 60's-80's). There are a lot of people out there who are holding on by a thread. That thread is going to keep me awake tonight I think. I see in my area there are a lot of people who need help but actually refuse it (kindly), thinking other people need it worse than they do. It breaks my heart to think people in their 80's can't afford food, doctors, dentists and medicine that they need. Thankfully, most of the people on the forum thread still have gardens, can everything they find and are gladly talking roadkill in some cases so they can have meat. I came away knowing I'm truly blessed and I need to make sure I'm able to help where it is needed.

Yeah ours got cut in half. It sucks because we don't make enough to cover bills as it is.

[bluegrassmom]

Link:
"Midnight grocery runs capture economic desperation"

[ScrubbieLady]

The article mentioned buying TP and water. I would assume the TP is definitely not on the list but would water be? If so, why?

[Canned Nerd]

I find it interesting that a large percentage of Food Stamp money is used for gambling, cruises, liquor, sodas and other such things. Since every is on a debit card now, all they did was hit ATM machines. California finally is trying to block some of that stuff, but to me the bull is already out of the barn and freely getting fat on other people's money.

I'm a senior and not eligible for Food Stamps, even if I wanted it, since I own a house, a 12-year-old car, and a little money in the bank to pay for the taxes, mortgage, etc. (until it runs out). I can starve to death because I don't have enough money left for food, but that's not relevant. Interesting world we live in.

Edited by Canned Nerd, 08 October 2010 - 11:43 AM.

[ScrubbieLady]

I just heard a news report that New York state wants the USDA to block people from using food stamps for buying soft drinks. SOFT DRINKS?!? Doesn't give me the image of people starving without the food stamps.

[Violet]

Yeh, my daughter just called and said the new neighbor lady just got a 6 lb. prime rib on food stamps and gave to her !! She also had brand new clothes from some program for low income gals getting off welfare. They take these classes and they get free clothes for finding work. The gal broght over margarine, Velvetta cheese, chips, I don't know what all. This gal just moved in a few days ago.
Seems really bizarre she has so many food stamps she can buy all this expensive stuff. Said she gets over $400 a month in food stamps plus all this other free stuff.
My daughter is barely over the poverty level to be eligible for food stamps. She has to go to food banks for food.
We understand what it is like. Those that would do so much with the food stamp money get none. My daughter will freeze or dehydrate a lot of things she gets. She takes all the dried beans no one else will even cook.
I just don't get the system. So much wrong with it all !
Anyway, went to Safeway. Only one row of food basically, most things just spread out on the shelves. At some of the other stores they are well stocked, but Safeway is really odd.

[FunkyPioneer]

At Safeway some stores are whats called red stores. Which means that they don't even make salery. When they get to the point they order the bare minimum to keep stores functioning. Safeway has cut stuff left and right and they get nightly deliveries to keep the shelves barely full. Believe when I say there is no back stock.

[snapshotmiki]

In walmart today there was a big metal rolling rack with #10 type cans of dehydrated fruits, vegies, egg powder, butter powder. I only got the egg and butter as I can do the rest myself. Butter powder--$20.53 178 servings, 2 pound 12 oz can. Egg powder--$16.36 78 servings, 2 pound 4 oz can. I got the last egg powder there. First time I have ever seen these items at a Walmart. I think they are good prices. Anyone else seen this?

[ANewMe]

The last time I went to the grocery store there was a crowd of people in the meat section just standing. They had put out the marked down meat and there were tons of people waiting to take a look.


The two CNA's that work in our classroom are bestfriends and they are also single mom's. From bits and pieces of their conversations I have gathered that they are pooling their Food Stamps together and shopping as smart as they can to stretch it. They have 7 kids between them.

[zophiel]

Miki,

Costco and Sams Club are starting to stock "Emergency Food" packages-- Shelf Reliance's Thrive brand for Cosco, and. . . I forgot the brand for Sam's Club.

Yeah, this is totally getting into the mainstream. I don't know if that makes this a self-fulfilling prophecy, or not. . . but the more people who have any measure of food storage, the better.

Myself, blame Glenn Beck, LOL! (always hawking gold and "Food insurance"! )

In walmart today there was a big metal rolling rack with #10 type cans of dehydrated fruits, vegies, egg powder, butter powder. I only got the egg and butter as I can do the rest myself. Butter powder--$20.53 178 servings, 2 pound 12 oz can. Egg powder--$16.36 78 servings, 2 pound 4 oz can. I got the last egg powder there. First time I have ever seen these items at a Walmart. I think they are good prices. Anyone else seen this?

[kathy003]

Now that is really odd you bring that up! Just last week a friend and I were shopping in our grocery store and saw emergency food packages,, I know they were new, I would have seen them before. I commented on how that is a sign of the time, then, I saw them in another local grocery store.

I wonder how many people will take them seriously when they see them, or just shrug them off.