Thursday’s Briefing: You’re Not Happy

by Contributor | July 10, 2008 3:24 pm

The top news in today’s roundup of stuff that matters from around the state is something you probably already know: You’re not feeling good about the economy and the way things are going. You’re not alone.

Siena College’s Siena Research Institute’s monthly survey of consumer confidence is out. It finds confidence — the way people feel about the economy and their personal circumstances — is falling fast[1]. Consumer confidence in the state is even lower than the national confidence average.

“It may sound like a broken record, but it’s true. Across every demographic consumer confidence has hit a new record low” according to Dr. Douglas Lonnstrom, professor of statistics and finance at Siena college and SRI Founding Director. “We’ve tracked consumer confidence in New York for nearly ten years and never before has such a high percentage of residents felt as though economic times are worse rather than better, likely to continue to worsen, and consequently they do not think it is the right time to spend.”

No group of people feels good about the economy, but those who feel the best are men, those under 55 years old, New York City residents and (duh) those who make a lot of money.

Says Lonnstrom:

“Nearly three-quarters of lower income state households are experiencing hardships due to both gas and food prices and over half say that gas is a very serious problem, 44% that food is and over one-third report that both are a very serious problem.”

Again, this likely isn’t news to you. What’s news is how many of us feel that way.

And on the subject of how New Yorkers feel about issues, there are fewer of us[2] to feel anything.

In Politics As Usual:

• A budget group wants the Governor to veto pension bills[3].
• The Gov’s state cutbacks are called “painless paring”[4].
• Your money helps build some state employees’ bonus miles[5].
• The new guy running the State Senate may bring the Senate back into session[6] to act on a property tax cap.

News To Use:

• New laws address your end-of-life wishes[7].
• Domestic violence laws now cover dating and boyfriend/girlfriend relationships[8].

Department Crime Or Punishment:

• “We were competing for the same 15 year old boy,” teenaged girl says as Mom — a former prosecutor — goes to prison.[9]
• A teenager’s fine money is missing. Police arrest the judge.[10]

Apropos Of Not Very Much

• When you need them the most, NYC parking meters will soon be the most expensive[11].
• It’s either a neighborhood nuisance, liability nightmare and traffic and drainage problem….or it’s a kid’s wiffle ball field[12].
• Many Governors of New York State have run in Utica’s Boilermaker, but never in the main race, until now[13].
• NY Times finally figures it out[14].

And The Last Word:

$5 million for candidates and not a penny for a website[15]?

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/editors-desk/thursdays-briefing-youre-not-happy/

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