Signs of a sagging economy

[Origisaurus]

Made a run across Denver on I-70 today.  Smokey is out there in full force, generating fines revenue to offset the state's fading tax revenue.  Much more than usual.  "Write the tickets or face layoffs."

Far fewer trucks than usual - if the goods aren't selling, hauling not needed.

Gas prices falling - if fewer people are driving to work because of layoff, lower gas sales.  (Also end-of-summer slump, now that vacation time is over.)

The tax-like-there's-no-tomorrow pols are finding out what it's like to have made promises they can't keep.

In my years in Detroit, commuting was always easier during a downturn.

[The Gorn]

"The recession is almost over!" they trumpet. Bah, horsefeathers. When people are desperate for any job for months, that's an indicator of a depression state.

So, yeah, I see exactly the same things. Whoever says that the recession is over is smoking whacky tobaccky or worse.

Note: no political hijacking, please. I just said what is probably on a lot of people's minds right now.

[Aussie]

Petrol prices in Sydney cycle over the week, with the cheapest day being Tuesday.  Though it sometimes continues through Wednesday till about 9am Thursday.  The price is typically about 20c a litre cheaper....figure about 15%.... cheaper on Tuesday.  Something like the way cinemas have a cheap Tuesday deal on movie tickets, though why the petrol industry sees fit to do this is beyond me.  Anyway, you'd have to be a muckin' foron to juice up on any other day, I reckon, but people do.  More dollars than sense, I guess.

[Origisaurus]

In many parts of the US, especially in summer, it's pretty much the same pattern.  Jack up prices on the weekend when everyone hits the road, then ease them on Tuesday when everyone is back on the job.  As a canny buyer, I used to check for the best prices on Thursday morning, then fill up on tht same afternoon.

[The Gorn]

The weekend price boost on gas has been very consistent here in Ohio for 10+ years at least. Probably longer.

[Origisaurus]

The weekend price boost on gas has been very consistent here in Ohio for 10+ years at least. Probably longer.

Probably longer than that and all over, but we were so flush we didn't notice.  Or the daily price variations were noise in the location variations.

[The Gorn]

Yeah, for years gas prices went up by at least a nickel on all local pumps on Thursday evening, and down again on Monday morning.

[John Masterson]

Yeah, for years gas prices went up by at least a nickel on all local pumps on Thursday evening, and down again on Monday morning.

If I owned a string of gas stations in your area, I'd advertise "cheap gas weekends!", post my price (same as weekdays or maybe a penny cheaper for effect)  and grab the weekend as my territory.