On my way to work I stopped by the bagel shop near my office. Closed. Last week I stopped by a burger franchise (not a fast food joint, more like semi-fast food) and it was closed too. The week before last, my co-worker and I tried to have lunch at a wonderful Italian deli near our office, but, of course, that was closed too. There are many trends in this recession that I’ve read about but few that I’ve actually seen. It’s depressing to see these establishments go out of business. However, when I stop to think about it I realize that I’ve eaten at home more in the past year. It seems like other people are eating home more often as well; congruently, cookbook sales are up.

What’s the consumer’s role in a recession? Should we be trying to support local businesses, manufacturers, or companies not represented in the local super market?  If you have discretionary income in this climate you have a vote in what’s offered to you. You can vote with your dollars. Think about this the next time you have occasion to spend some money.

If you are wondering how bad it actually is for retailers, review “The Scariest Retail Sales Chart ever” from The Business Insider.