The double dip

This is the only double dip (scoop) that I really want to see; however, I'm not so sure that we haven't already slid back into the recession - at least around here. I was out for dinner last night at a favorite local spot and it was mostly empty at 7 PM. Before the recession the place would have been packed at that time of night.

There are other signs. The local real estate market is in the tank again and foreclosures and short sales have climbed back above 50% of all sales lately. Much of what is selling is at the lower endof the market and the Days on Market for homes above $300K is still almost 2 years.

I also work as a sales rep for a local Xerox dealer and spend quite a bit of time out driving around in industrial parks visting clients and prospecting for new business. It is appaling to see all of hte empty buildings and shuttered businesses. Lots and lots of small tool and die shops and machining shops and other small supplier businesses that were dependent upon the automotive industry are just gone. The small business manufacturing base in this area has been decimated and there is nothing in sight to take it's place.

I also see a lot of survivors who are continuing to struggle along, trying to keep the lights on while they seek new clients or switch to being suppliers for new industries. I wish them well and try to help by "rightsizing" their office equipment, if I can. Still, it is sad to see the little 6-8 man company that is sitting there with all of the old equipment for the 30-40 man company that they were just a couple of years ago.

We'll all get throuigh this current, second dip; however, what comes out on the other side is going to be a wholly different environment for businesses, for families, for us all.