Readers suggested a topic around the deteriorating economic situation. "I’ve just heard that a So Cal fire dept was/is in contract negotiations. No raise. They’re being asked to take a 9% reduction in pay. Expect this trend to grow."

Another said, "My sweetheart works in education for a Sacramento area school district. She just told me last week that the State of CA budget cuts means no raises at all this year. Batten down the hatches. The reality is that just having a recession resistant job is going to be comfort enough."

A reply, "It give some comfort; however, while these jobs are more recession-resistant than others, they are not recession-proof. This is one aspect I and others were trying to get across to the 'anti-union' types. NOBODY will come out unscathed, IMO."

"I think, once people realize the magnitude of what we’re dealing with, we are going to see a consumer pull-back the likes of which we haven’t seen in a great, great while."

Another added, "My husband is a principal for the alternative school in an inner city school district and both times in the last two recessions, they cut the weeks he worked and we took not only a cut in wages, but a wage freeze for 3 years. We were just grateful he had a job and tightened our belts to accommodate the reduced wages."

One on costs, "Whatever happened to wages keeping up with inflation and loan resets? This will be the perfect storm for J6P."

One looks for safety, "A topic that interests me is what are the industries/jobs/fields that are OK in a recession/depression. Entertainment (books, internet, movies, etc). If one were to start a business that would survive and even possibly flourish, what do previous recessions tell us they would most likely be?"

One added, "How about a discussion on recession proof businesses, if in fact such a beast exists….. What products pricing will unwind? Aside from houses that is."

A reply, "I would assume a general statement such as the more difficult the profession is to learn, the more recession proof it is. IE. Doctor, Farmer, Unix admin may generally hold up better than Realtor (1 week class?), Retail clerk, Widget production line."

"Granted many skilled people will lose jobs, but I would rather be in the technical or medical profession at the grunt level rather than a manager of a retail chain store."

The New York Times. "The nation’s employers eliminated 17,000 jobs in January, the government reported Friday, the first decline in the work force in more than four years."

"The broad weakness in the job market, which affected many sectors, shows how the collapse of the housing bubble is rippling through the rest of the economy and suggests the likelihood of more pain for millions of American families in the months ahead from job losses, lower real wages and fewer working hours."

The Bradenton Herald. "Renowned Florida economist Henry Fishkind brought his trademark brand of stand-up forecasting to Lakewood Ranch on Friday. Opening with a projected slide of an alligator in his backyard, Fishkind said the errant and dangerous reptile was representative of the economy of late."

"'Certainly, the economy has turned down,' Fishkind said. 'The rest of 2008 is going to be a very slow year - 1 to 2 percent growth at best.'"

"'What we are going to see this year is the collapse of the condo market, both in Manatee and Sarasota counties,' Fishkind said."

"We will we see a recession? That depends on the status of job growth, Fishkind said, adding that the nation needs to see about 100,000 jobs added each month to avoid a recession."

"The local area, as a whole, lost about 2,300 jobs during 2007, most of those the result of the housing slump, Fishkind said."

The Medill Reports. "While economists debate definitions and indicators, W Hotel doorman Matt Geiger in Chicago’s Loop is among those who say there's no question the country is in a recession. 'Nobody wants to use the R word,' Geiger said. 'But we’re in it.'"

"Some in the service industry say they have noticed. 'People are tipping less,' said Nick Axiotis, manager of Marquette Inn Restaurant at 60 W. Adams. He also said business has slowed significantly since the holidays."

The Arizona Republic. "More economists now believe Arizona is already in a recession - or will be by the end of the year - because growth in consumer spending is anemic and fewer jobs are being created."

"A survey of Arizona's top economic forecasters found that 35 percent believe a recession has begun in the state, and three-fourths believe a recession will be at hand by the end of the year."

"'This is no disaster, but I think it will be the weakest economy we have had since 1980 to 1982,' Scottsdale economist Elliot Pollack said."

"Pollack, who as late as last fall had said that a recession was unlikely, said he changed his mind after seeing the latest retail and job-growth numbers. He now believes a recession is likely in the state this year and maybe into next year."

"The latest Arizona Business Conditions index, released Friday, rose a bit from a reading of 47.7 in December to 49.6 in January but is still way below the 64.3 of July. But anything less than 50 indicates a lack of growth in the near term and indicates a recession is likely in four to six months, said Dawn McLaren, research economist at ASU's W.P. Carey School of Business."

"The last time the index was below 50 was in September 2002, when the state was coming out of a recession. The index has correctly forecast recessions since it was started 45 years ago."

"Sources of consumer money have been shrinking: first home-equity loans, then credit, the stock market and now maybe the possibility of getting a new or better-paying job."

"Pollack said, 'They (consumers) have to pay down debt and increase their savings, and they can't do that out of their houses or the stock market anymore. They have to do it with real earnings.'"

"'The employment data is my single largest concern in the economy, both in Arizona and national,' said economist said Steve Taddie. 'It has been a year and a half since people have been able to really use their home equity. Without that, the spending growth has to come from employment.'"

The Union Tribune. "With unemployment hovering near 5 percent and home foreclosures surging, the local economy has probably dipped into 'the San Diego equivalent of a recession,' according to an economic index released yesterday."

"After two years of slowing, job growth has dropped beneath the rate of population growth and unemployment has hit a four-year high, leading USD economist Alan Gin to conclude that the economy may be in a San Diego-style recession."

"Gin expects local companies will hire only 5,000 to 8,000 people this year, compared with 10,700 last year and 17,800 the year before. 'That's not enough jobs, given our natural population growth and aging,' Gin said. 'And then there's also slower economic activity, including slower home sales.'"

"But the local economy still does not match the technical definition of a full-blown recession because there has been not been a year-to-year decline in employment or the gross regional product. Gin predicts that conditions will not get that bad because of the county's diversified economy, strong tech sector, tourism industry and military bases."

"'In terms of an actual recession, I don't think that can happen,' he said."

"'I hope he's right,' said James Hamilton, economist at the University of California San Diego. 'But in a some ways, I think we're more vulnerable to a downturn than a lot of other regions. We had a much bigger run-up in home prices and are having a bigger fall. There's a potential for much bigger price declines, which could have a big effect on consumer confidence and spending.'"