It's as much the fact that most people earn less now than they did 20 years ago! in real terms.

My wages have been static for a long time. Unlike some who work with me I know why.

Profits are down, have been for a while. Can't raise prices, customer simply go down the road and buy from the compitition. And we're going as hard as we can to keep costs low as possible, this includes not hiring.

And with the credit crunch, it's going to get worse, as in unemployment worse. Lost half a dozen sales the last three weeks because credit isn't there. Customer's credit was nearly perfect, mid -700's. But no money available.

Not to mention we can't get short term credit, "Net 30" is a vanishing phrase these days. PIA and COD is in. Which plays hell with cash-flow and operations capital.