This terrible economy seems to be getting worse. Every month we see corporations dismissing workers. Increased unemployment translates to folks buying not only fewer luxuries but in a decrease in sales of necessities as well.
We’ll keep the three−year−old Accord another year. We’ll wear the clothing we bought last year and maybe we’ll stay home and eat in instead of going out to the local deli for dinner. So many businesses are feeling the pinch and are doing something about it to stay afloat. Department stores are opening earlier on holidays to run deep discount sales. More pharmacies offer free delivery.
Restaurants stay open later and advertise unlimited refills on soft drinks. Some eateries offer free desserts and others will serve you a full entrÉe free of charge with one purchased of equal value. And if we ask Camille of the wonderful World Awaits Travel Agency, she’ll prove to you that cruise corporations are now offering super−sensational sailings at deep discounted, cut−rate prices. What those companies who are working to get your business have in common are lower prices, more service, or both.
The one company that almost everyone patronizes that does neither is the United States Postal Service.
The USPS reported a two billion — that’s Billion with a Capital B — dollar loss for the quarter ended on March 31, 2009. The Wall Street Journal tells us that the USPS predicts that it will handle about 180 billion pieces of mail this year. That’s a drop of about 32 billion pieces compared to the amount handled two years ago. With the postal business slowly sinking, what does management do? It raises prices. The scuttlebutt around town is that it may stop deliveries on Saturdays.
Common sense dictates lower prices and more services. The upper echelon of this once great agency seems to be heading in the wrong direction. Who are the people that make these decisions?
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There is one sector of the retail world that seems to be doing better because of the current financial downturn. Sales of wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages are on pace to rise this year to 79 billion — that’s Billion with a Capital B — dollars. That’s an increase of 4.8 percent over last year.
Why is that, Stanley? Are we becoming alcoholics?
Some of us might because of the depressed feeling of being out of work. The big reason, according to restaurant owners, is that those who are dining out are ordering less alcohol with their dinners to keep the size of their checks down. The imbibing of pre−dinner cocktails is being done in their own living rooms.
OK, everybody. Join me in this one. I don’t drink but if I did I would drink to the good health of President Obama. Yes. Yes. I really would. If, God forbid, anything serious happens to him, look who becomes our president.
L’Chaim.
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I am StanGershbein@Bellsouth.net asking the following question to South Carolina’s philandering Governor Mark Sanford: With all the unemployment here in the United States, was it really necessary for you to outsource your infidelity?
