Posted on 12/24/2014 10:25:11 AM PST by Vermont Lt
I’m waiting to hear from a possible employer about a new medical transcription job (remote, at home); but locally the economy just SUCKS. Very few jobs, small town (Kingman, AZ), and employers never even acknowledge receipt of an employment application.
The economy in Texas,like Oklahoma,Louisiana,and North Dakota is booming IN SPITE of Ali Bama and the libtard’s efforts to kill the oil and gas industry.
Around here (near-Cleveland) it feels pretty good. Restaurants and stores are crowded. Lots of home maintenance projects were done in the summer and autumn. There are always some “help-wanted” signs out. Christmas trees sold out over a week ago in nearby locations.
I’ve started investing my 401k in rental houses. There are an unbelievable number of repossessed homes. Some have been vacant more than four years and have not been sold or are even on the market. The realtor told me this is the best December for repo sales in her 30 year career. She and most of her large office are working 7 days a week. These are not new sales, but repos being sold at cents on the dollar.
I read a recent article that the 11% decline in Black Friday sales is closer to 20% when you figure in inflation. True gas is down, but insurance, taxes and food are way up.
The stock market, if figured in constant year dollars is down to below where it was when Obama took office. That 18,000 number is due to inflation, not value.
In short, the economy still wobbles. As for the 5% growth, pull the other one, it has bells on.
The Texas Hill Country seems to be doing ok although many still don’t have decent jobs. I can’t really judge the overall picture because we have a wide range of people living jumbled together - the filthy rich who are still spending like there’s no tomorrow, the commuters, a large percent of retired on fixed incomes and a increasing number of illegals. On Monday, Walmart wasn’t crowded at all and seemed to have less customers than usual. On Tuesday, we had some repairmen who said they were glad for the work because the only jobs they had recently were putting up Christmas lights for the filthy rich.
Gas finally broke the $2.20 mark so now at $2.19 - $2.15.
Growth in the Rocky Mtns. Conservative state government, tons of clean technology and lots of energy resource development. Empty homes all over town are getting bought up and rehabbed. Still lots of people living in RV’s in driveways with extension cords running to the main house.
if you are at the same place as 5 years ago and prices are this much higher, you aren’t as comfy as 5 years ago for sure
Amen!
Growth in the Rocky Mtns. Conservative state government, tons of clean technology and lots of energy resource development. Empty homes all over town are getting bought up and rehabbed. Still lots of people living in RV’s in driveways with extension cords running to the main house.
Huh? $1.83/gallon here in Denton.
Economy is much improved here in Colorado. People are getting jobs without long searches, rental markets are tight and rents are up, as are commercial and residential real estate prices. Housing in short supply, though the buying mania has eased.
State unemployment rate is 4.1%.
Lots of young hipsters moving to the state for its jobs and ample recreation opportunities, including pot. This includes homeless people too, unfortunately. Shelters running pretty full even with the better economy. The homeless coming in are pros at it, homeless by choice. They gravitate to Denver, which is fine with us mountain folk.
Things will start slowing within a year if energy prices remian depressed. But Colorado also becoming a tech center which will help.
Temp jobs, low wages, outrageous productivity quotas, massive amounts of overtime though during the fourth quarter....
My area: zero commercial construction with one exception - a government water project. Limited residential housing starts anywhere around.
As for jobs... No significant new businesses have moved into the area, no new starts. Some minor layoffs/downsizing, some minor hiring. Perhaps the best thing that could be said is that it's not getting significantly worse as it has over the past 5 to 6 years or so. Definitely not getting any better either though. Everyone seems to be just hanging on. (barely)
What state?
We didn’t exchange gifts last year and won’t this year either. I’m supposed to be off FR and in the kitchen making goodies for the neighbors. Family dinner tomorrow. And may take some homemade zero cost little stocking stuffers (left over from last year when they ticked me off) to the big family ta do at New Years. Sorry, the economy isn’t going to be helped with my Christmas spending.
I heard yesterday that the state employees (TX) retirement fund is going to be making even larger cuts in monthly benefits because it’s no longer profitable. It will be out of money by 2050. But, but Texas was supposed to be growing!!! Think again.
There usually are a handful of Christmas tree lots but there hasn’t been any this year.
This may change if the fracking is stopped.
PS we did finally land a place and hope to close in a few weeks.
Trivial raises but moderate inflation does mean you aren’t as comfy, indeed. But you are a whole lot better off than the other %50 or so that have been laid off and either can’t get work or got something with less than half the salary. Those folks are downright hurting.
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