My cousin works at a furniture/appliance store (100% commission) and he said that he has made 50% of what he made last year -- and that "everyone else is getting killed" as well.

He also said that the company held a meeting to tell everyone how great things were (how typical, in a cynical Dilbert sort of way!) which was adding insult to injury, since no one was fooled that things were great. It was a shameless "morale booster" by the upper management of the company.

Anyhow, it's interesting because it corroborates what I've read MANY other places about the Great Depression II starting. Inflation is a silent killer, and it strikes everyone with any amount of cash savings. Food, gas, EVERYTHING goes up in price -- that is, except your wages.

Matthew