Where is everyone?

Could be a trend too. I think I heard on CNN a week or so ago, that WalMart
reported the largest single month sales decline in 20 years or so.

Our business is level which, considering the addition of three major,
government-funded hotels in our market, we consider a "victory".

Of course, this comes after four years of double-digit growth, so
suddenly going flat "feels" like losing...

I think gas prices are really, really hurting the "common man". I've
got housekeepers and desk staff who have seen a HUGE increase in their
driving expense, with no compensating increase in wages. This
shortfall has to be made up somewhere -- so I suspect we're seeing Wal-
Mart (and other stores) get hit by the back wash.

IMHO, the big-box restaurant chains ("Applebees" and such) will get
hit the worst in an economic downturn. That's where a lot of
discretionary American income gets ****ed away nowadays, and it'll be
the first thing eliminated.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...

Our business is level which, considering the addition of three major,
government-funded hotels in our market, we consider a "victory".

Of course, this comes after four years of double-digit growth, so
suddenly going flat "feels" like losing...

I think gas prices are really, really hurting the "common man". I've
got housekeepers and desk staff who have seen a HUGE increase in their
driving expense, with no compensating increase in wages. This
shortfall has to be made up somewhere -- so I suspect we're seeing Wal-
Mart (and other stores) get hit by the back wash.

IMHO, the big-box restaurant chains ("Applebees" and such) will get
hit the worst in an economic downturn. That's where a lot of
discretionary American income gets ****ed away nowadays, and it'll be
the first thing eliminated.
--

I think so too. I think everyone tried to ignore the gas hikes last year and
continue business as usual as much as possible, hoping it would be
temporary. Then prices backed up a bit, and kind of reassured us. But this
time I think we are all having to admit to a serious problem, it's here to
stay, and people are starting to react.

Hopefully your business is specialized enough to fair better than most. But
I'm guessing most of us are in for a whole new ballgame, at least until post
election 2008.

Jay Honeck writes:

I think gas prices are really, really hurting the "common man". I've
got housekeepers and desk staff who have seen a HUGE increase in their
driving expense, with no compensating increase in wages. This
shortfall has to be made up somewhere ...

Have them buy stock in Exxon. The money they are paying out in gas is going
into shareholders' pockets.

IMHO, the big-box restaurant chains ("Applebees" and such) will get
hit the worst in an economic downturn. That's where a lot of
discretionary American income gets ****ed away nowadays, and it'll be
the first thing eliminated.

Unfortunately, GA will probably go first.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...

Have them buy stock in Exxon. The money they are paying out in gas is
going
into shareholders' pockets.

Now you are a stock expert too.



Unfortunately, GA will probably go first.

We know you are hoping.



Did it rain out the playground, or did you screw up and take double meds
again?

Mxsmanic wrote in
:

Jay Honeck writes:

I think gas prices are really, really hurting the "common man".
I've got housekeepers and desk staff who have seen a HUGE increase in
their driving expense, with no compensating increase in wages. This
shortfall has to be made up somewhere ...

Have them buy stock in Exxon. The money they are paying out in gas is
going into shareholders' pockets.

IMHO, the big-box restaurant chains ("Applebees" and such) will get
hit the worst in an economic downturn. That's where a lot of
discretionary American income gets ****ed away nowadays, and it'll be
the first thing eliminated.

Unfortunately, GA will probably go first.

No, it won't fjukktard


Bertie

Jay Honeck wrote:
Could be a trend too. I think I heard on CNN a week or so ago, that WalMart
reported the largest single month sales decline in 20 years or so.

Our business is level which, considering the addition of three major,
government-funded hotels in our market, we consider a "victory".

Of course, this comes after four years of double-digit growth, so
suddenly going flat "feels" like losing...

I think gas prices are really, really hurting the "common man". I've
got housekeepers and desk staff who have seen a HUGE increase in their
driving expense, with no compensating increase in wages. This
shortfall has to be made up somewhere -- so I suspect we're seeing Wal-
Mart (and other stores) get hit by the back wash.

IMHO, the big-box restaurant chains ("Applebees" and such) will get
hit the worst in an economic downturn. That's where a lot of
discretionary American income gets ****ed away nowadays, and it'll be
the first thing eliminated.


Yes, but many low income folks that I know (and I live in a low income
area) spend more each week on cigarettes, beer and lottery tickets than
on the increase in gasoline.

I drive 40 miles to work and back each day for roughly 200 miles per
week not counting trips out to lunch. I drive either my Sonata (29 MPG)
or my Chevy truck (17 MPG), but let's use the truck as the worst case.
The truck burns say 12 gallons/week for my commute. When gas was
$2/gallon this was $24/week. Now at $3.14 I pay $38/week. I'm not
saying that the extra $14/week goes unnoticed, but I know people who
spend far more than that each week on cigarettes alone, not counting
beer and lottery tickets. So, there are many places that can be cut
back, but most folks will give up cigarettes last, beer next to last and
lottery tickets right before the beer! :-)

And if I drive the Sonata (which I do when my daughter doesn't need our
other vehicle), the difference is only about $8/week. Hardly enough to
dramatically change my buying habits. And folks that live closer to
work have commensurately less of a change.


Matt

At this point I'd take the $3.14 a gallon... I just filled up today for
$3.59 for 87 unleaded. I still gave a wink to the Hummer guy next to me
as I topped off my Accord. :-)

I sold my partner my share of our Mooney a few months ago and I honestly
haven't missed it a bit. I gave aviation a fiar shot for over 6 years
and came to the conclusion that the expense wasn't worth the reward.
Then again it has only been a few months without flying. I am reserving
the right to change my mind at any time.

I do know that if I do go back to flying that renting will be the way to
go for me. I sure can do a lot with the 15 AMU's a year I was spending
on owning. YMMV

Jon

Matt Whiting wrote:
Now at $3.14 I pay $38/week.

Jon Kraus wrote:
At this point I'd take the $3.14 a gallon... I just filled up today for
$3.59 for 87 unleaded. I still gave a wink to the Hummer guy next to me
as I topped off my Accord. :-)

I sold my partner my share of our Mooney a few months ago and I honestly
haven't missed it a bit. I gave aviation a fiar shot for over 6 years
and came to the conclusion that the expense wasn't worth the reward.
Then again it has only been a few months without flying. I am reserving
the right to change my mind at any time.

I do know that if I do go back to flying that renting will be the way to
go for me. I sure can do a lot with the 15 AMU's a year I was spending
on owning. YMMV

I would agree if renting was an option. However, of the three airports
within 35 miles of my house, none currently have aircraft available for
rent. The one sold its last rental 172 to a friend of mine and the
owner hasn't replaced it yet. I believe he will, but at the moment
renting isn't even an option. Sigh...

Matt

Then again it has only been a few months without flying. I am reserving
the right to change my mind at any time.

If you can go "a few months" without flying, you were never addicted.

Probably a good thing, with prices rising. At some point, we addicts
will have to make some hard choices.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
Then again it has only been a few months without flying. I am reserving
the right to change my mind at any time.

If you can go "a few months" without flying, you were never addicted.

Probably a good thing, with prices rising. At some point, we addicts
will have to make some hard choices.

That is true. I love to fly, ride motorcycles, shoot, and several other
things, but I am addicted to none of them. I can, and have, gone two or
more years without doing any one of them as circumstances of college or
work dictated. Being addicted to anything is a bad deal and causes poor
decision making. This is true whether the addiction is to your job,
your hobby or a drug.


Matt