Are You Seeing Signs of a Recession?

[Rob]

In my blog today (http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz/forum/blog.php?b=35) I have posted news from the UK's Chamber of Commerce that a recession is now likely in the UK.

There is the danger of course of countries talking themselves in to a downturn but I was wondering if you are experiencing a decline in sales or evidence of a tightening in cashflow (increase in late payers for example)?

What's your experience?

[PaulSimister]

Rob

As you read my blog you will know that I have seen a UK recession as virtually inevitable for months and I have been building up resources to help businesses during difficult times.

Construction, property and mortgages were the first affected but the squeeze is being felt in the High Street.

What did surprise me was the fall in the car sales in June with private sales down 11.9% and company cars down a whopping 15.1%.

It can only be a matter of time before we see marginal retailers failing and job cuts from the distribution businesses.

[beatwin]

You may call me a pessimist, but i m seeing the signs of depression, let alone recession. Not that the situation is that bad, but it's how we are trying to tackle the problem that disturbs me.

[Rob]

Beatwin,

I think you are absolutely right. The signs are there that we are in for a minimum of 3 years of limited growth. The global mindset is fixed that we are going to have problems and that is what we are going to get.

I heard a saying once, 'A recession is when your next door neighbour loses his job; a depression is when you lose yours.'

If you see my location profile you'll see I live in Africa - Kenya - the news is nothing but 'when is it going to arrive here' - the media is already stoking the fire, so it will happen.

I have a friend in the UK who has just hired workmen to do some jobs on his new house (yes, someone has actually bought a house!) and the painter said that as of next week, for the first time in years, he has no work lined up - mortgage to pay, family to keep and nothing to come in - scary thought.

This is not an isolated example - the fallout is going to be horrendous.

[FionaFell]

Coming from an Australian perspective, we a a little bit removed from the hype of the US/UK, but very much attached to their economies.

I have seem the stock market rise and fall recently as though it was a yo-yo.

But from my perspective I am seeing less people 'adding on' to their web hosting plans, but not too much of a reduction in new customer 'take up'.

So from that I see Aussie buyers are spending money, but not as much as they have done recently, with all the hype and mayhem all over the news I can't blame them for being hesitant and cautious.

[hosting]

hi

I am completely agree with beatwin.