[Tallguy]

Frankly I watch the price of gasoline. If the price per gallon was in the $4 range in my area pre-crash, then that’s probably where it should be when the economy recovers. Since the price of a gallon of gas has been bouncing around $2.75 in a fairly narrow range, I’m guessing the economy is still “in the tank.” When people start going back to work & filling their tanks twice per week for their work commute, then we’ll see a rise in fuel prices.

It’s a crude method, but I think it has some merit.

[glorgau]

I watch rail traffic. It seems up a bit from last year, but nothing like 2005.

[wintertime]

One way I used to judge the economy was by asking the FedEx and UPS drivers how things were going. If FedEX and UPS was busy, then the economy was good and/or going to get even better.