I tend to watch the E-bay indicator. When times get tougher, items like jewelry are more plentiful and auction for lower prices. Grandpa's pocket watch and Great Aunt Tillie's cameo are amoung the first things people seem to put up for bid.

I notice when times are hard. I feel like my social relationship with my friends suffers because you know we just don't see each other any more. Everybody is usually working more and we don't have the money to go out. You know we're college students and we're poor so you know everybody sort of like just tones down. Honkers(?) down and works I guess.

Frans from Rockland County.

I'm Barbara in Rhode Island. For me I know the economy is bad when I start thinking that I might have to look for a job closer to home. I drive 21, 91mi round trip every day to get to a job that I've been at for 10yrs and that I love, but when I start thinking that the gas prices are getting higher and higher and more and more of my weekly income is going into my gas tank. Then I start thinking that maybe I need to find something closer to home. Then I know things are getting bad cos I love my job. Thank you.

I'm Annmarie from Massachusetts. You know it's pretty bad when people are waiting in line to buy gas for $3.48 a gallon. I was waiting in line and I pulled up to my slot and a young guy just turned and tried to back into my spot I peeked at him and I said hey, I been waiting in line, and he was like, oh oh I didn't realize there was a line so luckily we didn't come to fisticuffs. I remember in the 70's when I was a little kid how it was just crazy people waiting in line for gas and fighting about it and so that's what makes me think that the economy is doing pretty bad when people are but waiting in line for that price of gas and fighting about it.

Two of the last three times I was out to dinner (in two different states!) the folks in the immediate next booths had their credit cards declined. Both times the manager was involved and it was so awkward (and sad), I've sworn off going out to dinner until the economy is looking rosier. (I really like your show by the way). Rick, Long Island NY.

People are working more diligently at their jobs.

Madison Avenue guys in good suits buying lunch from the chicken/rice vendor for under $6

Adaora, Giggling at someone else's troubles is not very professional. The economy is in trouble, people are having trouble paying their bills, if they can make their dollar stretch more by shopping at the Salvation Army, it is not something to laugh about. And, who said they weren't there donating something? In any event, giggles during a discussion on today's sad economic situation is not appropriate.

MEDIA GLEE/WHICH PARTY HOLDS THE WHITE HOUSE.

I know the economy is going through a bad spell when the glee expressed in the Mainstream and left-of-center media increases AND the GOP holds the White House. The worse the economy, the greater the glee.

When the President is a Democrat -- I'm old enough to remember Kennedy -- Media Glee assumes an inverse relationship.

When I *finally, finally* hear reporters talk not only about the delusionary unemployment numbers the Dept of Labor picks out as "claims for unemployment insurance" but also includes the *number of people who have stopped looking!!!* for jobs.