What recession?

[Odsox]

Yesterday (Sunday) we made one of our irregular forays into the big city (Cork) for a bit of a shopping splurge (yes I know)
It's not something we undertake lightly as it is about 140 mile round trip and the last time we went was early December to do the Christmas shopping, anyway ... the place was absolutely packed, all the car parks were full, the shops were full, all the checkouts were full, it took us half an hour to buy something in Argos from queuing to pay until actually getting the item. I was amazed as there were probably just as many shopping as there were just before Christmas, and the roads were absolutely clogged with traffic.
So ..... what recession? I don't think it's arrived here yet, people are far too busy spending money to have noticed.

[evelyn]

I would have to agree with you, i foolishly poped in to the big blue supermarket on Saterday and as usual it looked like a battle scene.

I to date have not seen much evidence of a recession.
Eve

[The Riff-Raff Element]

I can't say we've seen too much obvious evidence here either, but of course we are in the middle of nowhere. Certainly all the artisans - builders, carpenters, plumbers and so on - are very busy and are even quoting on work for 2010. BUT most of the work they are getting is for new social housing projects and not for private work. And that worries them.

Supermarkets are busy and activity at our local market is up, which is suprising because that is were you go for premium product in France and it is more expensive. I have a feeling that restaurants are suffering though. It's a little hard to tell because this is a quiet time for them anyway, so we'll see when summer comes.

Our bookings are about the same as last year, so I'm guessing holidays are being treated as an essential rather than a luxury. But we're gites; B&Bs are having a harder time of it I think.

[mrsflibble]

if any more shops shut basildon is gonna start looking like a fricking ghost town!!!

[Thomzo]

Shops are shutting here in Swindon too but I have a feeling that we just had too many of the wrong sort to start with.

Zoe

[Flo]

Well the Metro Centre on edge of Gateshead is a ghost centre - apparently it was busy over half term as the youngsters were taken to see the free entertainment provided by the Metro Gnomes. I did notice the one day that I was through that the show had a really packed audience which can be unusual if money is around. Not a lot of shopping bags going out - Pound Shops and Primark seem busy but no-one else. The cheaper Fast Food outlets there seems busy.

The market town the other way seems to be going for a ghost town at the moment - even the charity shops are quiet (possibly due to lack of stock).