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" The economy in my neighborhood is just fine. In fact, I think my neighbor and I will take another shopping trip to Oakbrook soon. "

" If I wanted to take the life signs as to what's going on out there in the real world, my inclination would be to listen to Mr. Lee Scott of Wal-Mart. According to him, HIS customers are just about tapped out. (And if Wal-Mart customers are tapped out, what's next?) Consider a Jan. '07 report from the Congressional Budget Office. Between 1979 and 2004, after tax income increased as follows: The lowest 1/5th ($13,900-14,700) increased 6%. The second 1/5th ($28,000-32,700) increased 17%. The Middle 1/5th ($39,900-48,400) increased by 21%. The Fourth 1/5th ($52,300-67,600)by 29%. The top 1/5th ($92,100-155,200) by 69%. And the top 1 percent ( $314,000-867,800) by 176%. Maybe this should be interpreted as good news. By everyone except Mr. Scott. "

" First of all, the first quarter showed a SLIGHTLY negative dip, and Jim Payne, the professor at ISU who was part of the study, said this is not uncommon for the cold months. The major thing is that the economy has increased 70 percent since the baseline at 1990. Second of all, why are you attacking the EDC? They are a non-profit organization and are just doing their job with this study. "

" Well, if you want a good paying job, lots of happy talk and a job that entails cranking out nothing but great news, apply at the Economic Development Council. And shame on WalMart for recently wandering too far off the 'happy talk' reservation. Business is down: and WalMart CEO Lee Scott even urged Congress in 2005 to raise the minimum wage. So that his customers don't have to struggle from paycheck to paycheck. This is definitely not great news. Imagine: a world where the largest retailer of Chinese made products thinks that even THEY are getting too expensive. There is, however, a silver lining in all of this. Rumor has it that first time homeowners will soon be able to order a complete home kit from China. If, that is, and as Lee Scott suggests, Congress will again raise the minimum wage. That will just about make the new kits affordable. "

" It just kills me that it takes Economic Development Council to tell people that the economy has gone down hill. Just drive around the area and see all those new home with the sale sign in front of them that have been there for a year or more. Go past the stores and the parking lots are not always full. People spent more money on gas and less on things they really did not need like new toys, etc. This will not change till the price of gas goes down or hybrids take over and we have more money to spend or till the area gets more businesses in that hire people with good paying jobs. "