Over 10,000 have used up their unemployment payments and have no income
from any source. This does not include the always ongoing unemployed.

Bankruptcies
are the highest they have ever been even exceeding those that took
place before the new more credit friendly bankruptcy were passed into
law a couple of years ago.

For most people those are just figures that don't really mean anything or bring the dire situation to the front.

Driving around Broward county there doesn't seem to be a single block that doesn't have a 'for
rent' or 'for sale' in front of homes or hanging on condo buildings. A
neighborhood, like Victoria Park, in which I live, always known as a
stable, older, fine homes costingmillions of dollars have as many signs as poorer neighborhoods.

Driving up Federal Highway on just one stretch you will see unoccupied and closed buildings that were once thriving like Fuddruckers, Bennigan's, Houston's, Circuit City, The Rag Shop, Bombay, Linen and Things not to forget many smaller businesses and complete shopping strips.

You see more signs of homelessness along with many organizations that can no longer provide them with the bare necessities.

In
supermarkets people are buying less brand names and more generic names
while cheaper cuts of meats and filling items like potatoes are filling
their baskets.

Dollar and Thrift stores
are doing better business than regular or high priced stores and malls
are seeing more window shoppers than actual buyers.

Legit theatres are begging for business while performing art centers are playing to half filled auditoriums or canceling shows.

No one really seems to know what's ahead though we think it will take more than the one or two years people are talking about for recovery and the landscape of stores, businesses and restaurants will certainly change.

I,
personally, am doing okay though my rent will be going up June 1 and
movie prices are raising but I am, with coupons, still able to eat out
as often as I have and my way of life hasn't changed that much---yet!!
I truly believe being poor is working to my advantage right now.