[Surffrog]

Originally Posted by TKDmasterZ

The Great Depression came many months after the stock market crash. I think we can call what happened in October a 'crash'. My company just shed about 10% of engineers, and many are speculating this is the first round of many to come. I think this is happening across the board, and hitting specially hard the smaller companies without much cash to survive. I think 2009 will be gloomy. But it shouldn't take too long before things pick up and we'll be happy wasting our money again!

I wish I could share your optimism, TKD. Unfortunately, it's still going to take at least a year and a half to begin seeing signs of recovery once the markets have hit the floor - I'm now thinking somewhere around two and a half years from now - and the movement of recovery will be much slower than before due to the increased regulation. That time frame might well be longer if the big three in the US don't get any relief. If one goes down the number of workers flooding a market with very few new jobs (if any) available will mean even less people with money to spend.

[dr256]

Next step will be a run on various currencies.
Probably the Pound, the Dollar and any other country that has announced big borrowing plans...

[Surffrog]

We in Asia are already noticing it in the pound, the US dollar and the Auzzie dollar, too.

[dr256]

I know Surf.
Thus far figured I'd probably be able to weather it without Too much pain.
A serious run on the pound and dollar may change all that...

[Surffrog]

Just don't go buying that brand new 1000rr 08 unless you really, really need it.