Emergency supply retailers and military surplus stores nationwide have seen business boom in the past few months as an increasing number of Americans spooked by the economy rush to stock up on gear that was once the domain of hardcore survivalists. ( Associated Press )
Lately, a steady stream of data has suggested the pace of the economy’s decline is slowing. That, in turn, has stoked fears that the Fed’s efforts to steer the economy away from a 1930s-era depression would push the country toward ’70s-style inflation. ( Washington Post )
Some recession-weary farmers, hit by rising feed costs, are downsizing by stocking up on small breeds of cattle . ( Los Angeles Times )
The prime-time TV lineups for 2009-10 are full of sitcoms meant to make recession-weary viewers laugh and feel better. ( New York Times )
There’s pretty good evidence that white-collar crime, primarily embezzlement, increases during a recession. ( Denver Business Journal )
Instead of seeing older workers staying on the job longer as the economy has worsened, the Social Security system is reporting a major surge in early retirement claims. ( Los Angeles Times )
A little more than a decade ago, former Federal regulator Brooksley Born predicted that an economic disaster would result from derivatives trading and sought to increase regulation. ( Washington Post )
High tech regions, which throughout most of 2008 were far more economically secure than the rest of the country, are now seeing unemployment, foreclosure and bankruptcy rates on par with national averages, and in some cases even higher. ( Associated Press )
Planning a recession-friendly “staycation” this summer? Here are some tips for daytrips and other activities that won’t take you far from home. ( Consumer Reports )
Some self-starters among the ranks of the unemployed are starting businesses to finally launch that invention they’ve been mulling over for years. ( Los Angeles Times )
