The economy, are you better off?

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The statistics are grim: Inflation is at a 17-year high. Unemployment is rising. Foreclosures are spreading.

For many Americans, however, these figures are simply numbers. They are still gainfully employed and paying their mortgages. Sure, they are shelling out more for gas and groceries, which might prompt them to skip a movie or a dinner out. But overall, they are still better off than they were when America's last recession ended in November 2001.

For others, of course, the picture looks much different. They are the statistics. These are the people who have lost their jobs and are struggling to hold onto their homes. Soaring prices at the pump and the supermarket have shattered any hope they can crawl out from under their debt. There's no question they are worse off than they were seven years ago.

CNN is will be looking at the economy over the next few days. An interesting subject and one in which they will undoubtedly use the R word.

It is apparent some people have felt nothing more than higher fuel costs, others have lost their jobs and the prospects of finding new ones is dismal.I've haven't lost in the sense of losing something, but I've suffered a considerable reduction in income due to my client base not being willing to invest in their businesses at this time.

An interesting read. http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/2...n=yes