Perceptions of the recession

pizzaboy

A lot of restaurants are currently closing down near me,and a lot more will be soon so yes.I work in catering.

MrFonzerelli

We're in a recession??? Someone could have told me!

knitter

Hubby this time last year was doing aout 80 hours overtime a week Hes now on a 4 day week....Redundency looms:eek: ...Hes works in the same factory in manufacturing Worked there for 25yrs in August
And anyone walking down our local high street with all the shop closure might suspect something not quite right with the ecomony

SGE1

lostinrates wrote: »

I think I would have been able to tell....but its a hard world to imagine....no radio...no newspapers or online media! I think I would have noticed for the following reasons:

1. Changes in interest rates. (for our house purchase fund)
2. Changes in value of Euros, sterling and dollar (we hold currency, to some degree in those three)
3. My DH is in corporate law. He's most certainly noticed changes....
4. Pricing changes: I made changes to reduce petrol costs when they were increasing, and also I do a fairly standard Monday to Friday shop which doesn't vary much (I realise thats not particularly healthy) and the increases on that initially were staggaring. Like wise costs of animal feed have risen considerably...I would have wondered why as they relate....remotely to previous, and possibly future, area of work.
5. House hunting. You see stuff sticking...you'd eventually start to wonder why. Similarly, mortgage availability.

ETA:
6. Other family work changes.

I think there would have been other explanations for many of them, but pieced together, it wouldn't have been a difficult assumption to come to.

Fair enough, if I were in your position I'd probably put 2 and 2 together (I would hope!).

I guess what I'm driving at is trying to figure out whether your average Jo/sephine would have noticed. Do you think you're representative of the average man on the street? Not everyone is clued up about interest rates, currency rates even less so.

lostinrates

SGE1 wrote: »

Fair enough, if I were in your position I'd probably put 2 and 2 together (I would hope!).

I guess what I'm driving at is trying to figure out whether your average Jo/sephine would have noticed. Do you think you're representative of the average man on the street? Not everyone is clued up about interest rates, currency rates even less so.

I'm part of the statistic that makes up the average.

More people go overseas on holiday than before....I think they would have noticed that they got less for the pound? Lots of people make more 'sophisticated' investments than in previous generations too I think (no stats just feeling), Including BTL...so their brokers might have told them.

EU means more people are fluid in borders, so again...I think it would have leaked out...especially as workers leave to return for the same reasons they came (include my family in that, not a racist slur on anyone). I think there are lots of indicators.

I find it concerning that it is indicated that 'the people can't be expected to understand/not panic' -the push many have for shutting up the media-while simultaneously they are expected to understand the complicated mechanisms of their own investments, tax forms and pension/saving plans. And indeed, voting abilty.

tyllwyd

I would have noticed Woolworths & Rosebys closing on our high street (along with a few others). Even my 10 year old daughter noticed how many empty shops there were when we last went shopping.

SGE1

tyllwyd wrote: »

I would have noticed Woolworths & Rosebys closing on our high street (along with a few others). Even my 10 year old daughter noticed how many empty shops there were when we last went shopping.

I too would have noticed that, but are you sure that would have been enough to convince you of the recession? Woolworths had been doing poorly for years after all, it wasn't out of the blue.

slopemaster

knitter wrote: »

And anyone walking down our local high street with all the shop closure might suspect something not quite right with the ecomony

yes, thats how I would have noticed, too

SGE1

knitter wrote: »

And anyone walking down our local high street with all the shop closure might suspect something not quite right with the ecomony

Where do you live??

Sorry, but I find it difficult to believe that enough shops have been boarded up to suggest a recession. Yes, some shops have closed down, but I have to admit that in London at least, not one boarded up place (e.g. Woolworths) has caught my eye.

lostinrates

Some high street somewhere maywell have a closed woolworths, Zavvi, Adams, Whittards, Starbucks??....I just googled -I fell back onto the media -you are right, it would be tricky to keep track of who and how many without.....I didn't realise a few M and S's were going as well.

Without media you might not realise it was a national (or indeed international) thing....unless you were employed by them and looking for a new job

I think the neverending sales in places that are open are indicative too.