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Recession Briefing 5.1

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

The recession is causing increased workday snacking in the U.S., according to a new study. (Reuters)

They may not be feeling the pain as much as, say, the folks they laid off, but CEOs saw their pay take a dive last year also. But that may not be the whole story: Even AIG’s “dollar-a-year” CEO, Edward M. Liddy, received side compensation worth about $460,000 in 2008. (USA Today, New York Times/Dealbook)

According to online prediction market Intrade, there is a 20 percent chance that the U.S. will fall into a depression. (New York Times/Economix)

So far, the recession seems to be driving entrepreneurship, rather than stifling it. A new study found that an average of 320 out of 100,000 adults created a new business each month last year. (Wall Street Journal)

Mortgage interest rates are now at record lows: The average rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages slid to 4.78% from 4.8% last week. (Los Angeles Times)

Earnings reports from Starbucks may be a better indicator of  the health of the middle class economy than the GDP. (24/7 Wall St. via Time)

After months in the hot seat, Neel Kashkari, the head of the Treasury Department’s bailout operations, is planning to exit today. (Washington Post)

Companies are recruiting and hiring employees differently as a result of the recession. The hiring of freelancers and consultants has become more common — and when they do take on new employees, companies are taking longer to make an offer. (Economist)

Despite the high level of unemployment, there are still approximately 3 million jobs that employers are actively recruiting for but so far have been unable to fill. (BusinessWeek)

The recession and the swine flue epidemic are showing how we are living in an increasingly borderless world that requires international cooperation. (Christian Science Monitor)

If you come across a good article or blog post about the recession pass it on.

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