Everyone knew the web would affect retail, but a "retail meltdown"

[2naSalit]

12. I think that a lot of us

just don't buy much these days and are using what we already have. Another thing is the fact that employment stats use only the info on those who are registered with unemployment agencies, it doesn't count people who are no longer seeking work or have simply run out of the UI benefits allowed for the amount of income you earned last year, which is my case. I am looking for work but I am not counted in the "jobless" category because I am no longer receiving UI benefits, they ran out in January.

So there are a lot of us not working who are also not included in the data. When I have to spend any money, it is for food, shelter, transportation. There's usually nothing left in my budget after the first two needs are met. I don't buy clothing unless I'm working and usually I'm buying a new pair of shoes that have to last me at least two years, or bluejeans with the same time/life expectancy. I get new undies and socks every three years, stock up when I have an income, everything else I have is recycled/second-hand.

So I can see where there would be a drop in consumerism, it's not a bad thing when considering the environment, capitalism has outlived it's worth for most of us, we need a new paradigm going forward.