I say the market will do this

[Jones]

I think Jim has a great crystal ball!

I'm getting loans cheaper than SBA through my local bank compared to the rates listed...which is good! Numbers are up and I see a GREAT SEASON approaching...

[Jim Fisher]

Dow over 10k . Time to sell short. I see a downward spiral for the next two months. Unemployment over 10. Man if the writing isnt all over the wall to sell short I dont what is.

[UV MAN]

I agree, the market is inflated on NON CONSUMER spending. Unless the Govenment continues to throw money at the problem the market will hit a double bottom. Consumer Spending is aweful right now and not improving.

[Michelle N]

I work a fulltime job at a Major Medical Insurance company. We serve 4 states and we just got an email from one of the "Big Boys" that the company will be laying off approximately 400 people across all 4 states by the end of this year. Talk about a scary time. My paying job helps with the salon costs at this time as I have only been open since March 2008, so I am going through my sencond JASON right now. All I can do is pray that I am not one of the ones that get layed off. It will get better, it will get better, it will get better....

[Drew]

This market is out of whack with reality. There is a ton of cash looking for places to make a decent return and recently it was with a market moving up, but it was only moving up based on money moving in, and not any fundamentals of the companies whos stock was purchased.
Look at gold. Hitting all time highs. If the market was truly the place for money, gold would have dropped like a rock.

gold will keep going up, and the market will reverse. If no major terrible things happen like China forcing the Dollar out as the global standard....then the market will probably drop back down between 7 and 8k. Any big bad news and we are looking at 5k. (Like Obamacare maybe).

The lowest gas prices in Ca right now are $2.89 for regular.Many places are over 3 for regular. I don't see big drops or big increases in near term.

Rates of course will stay low with only perfect credit companies and people getting any money. Mom and Pop businesses all over the country will continue to fail thru 2010 as credit remains too tight for many to survive.

Christmas 2009, spending will be up some, but specials will be less too.

Tanning salons have an inverse relationship to big spending in "Retail" reports and Christmas spending. When people spend "big" in "retail" or on Christmas...they actually have LESS money to spend on non esentials like tanning.
So, hope for small increases that just shows purse strings are easing a bit for people who still have jobs.

[raiseprices]

Drew, well said

[AllenJ]

Originally Posted by Michelle N

I work a fulltime job at a Major Medical Insurance company. We serve 4 states and we just got an email from one of the "Big Boys" that the company will be laying off approximately 400 people across all 4 states by the end of this year. Talk about a scary time. My paying job helps with the salon costs at this time as I have only been open since March 2008, so I am going through my sencond JASON right now. All I can do is pray that I am not one of the ones that get layed off. It will get better, it will get better, it will get better....

I was in the same situatation. Fortunately the time I have been able to spend at the salon has paid off. It has been a rough year, but the daylight is showing. Hopefully you won't lose your job, but if you do the severence package will provide some comfort for awhile.

Good luck I hope all goes well for you!