Maps of the Recession

Think your town has it worst? You could be right. But to be sure, there are a plethora of maps, lists and other round-up prognoses attempting to help you determine just how bad it is from city to city. Here are two of the latest.

AP: Economic Stress Map
The Associated Press has rolled out its Economic Stress Index, which uses basic economic indicators like jobs, foreclosures and bankruptcies to find heat maps of good times and bad. You can watch videos of real people who have suffered the downturn. But the map comes with a self-serious accompanying story that makes us ask, Really, is this necessary?…

It’s So Bad, We’re Cutting Commas (Video)

The worst of company reductions might be over, said the New York Times the other day—but only because there’s nothing left to slash. Obviously the firms surveyed aren’t being creative enough. You can always eliminate punctuation, which takes up costly time, ink, and pixels. (We use lots of it, so we know how expensive it can get.)

We Get It, Traffic is Down!

If ever there was an upside to this downturn, it just might be the easing of rush hour traffic. But for goodness sakes, we know, we know.

The Washington Post is the latest to discover that there are fewer cars on the road – drivers in the D.C. area drove 600 million fewer miles in November than in the same month a year earlier. If you’ve ever suffered the pain of Beltway traffic (around holiday time, two hours to cover 13 miles, ugh), you’re probably almost thrilled about the recession’s reckless purging of jobs to which people must commute and the gas they can’t afford.

It’s not just in D.C., as you probably well know (there’s already a growing archive of breathless stories). Last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that across the nation, 8.6 billion fewer miles were covered in January and February of this year compared to the same time last year. Rush hour traffic in major metropolitan areas fell 29% from 2007 levels…

Recession Briefing 5.20

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

With tightened budgets and layoffs abounding, is it okay to ask for a raise this year? Tread carefully and the request can be both sensitive and successful. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Welcome to the summer of the furlough. During this recession, everyone from universities to technology companies are using furloughs as a way to cut payroll without further trimming their staffs. (Fortune)

As cash-strapped consumers face escalating food prices, Wal-Mart, Kraft, Unilever and Campbell are using the magical $1 price to appeal to people cooking more at home. (USA Today)

Screwed: 1,500 at Medtronic Inc.

A daily review of the employment fallout around the country and the world.

Medtronic Inc. is shrinking its global workforce by laying off 1,500 employees… In another round of layoffs, Lloyds Banking Group announced plans to layoff 625 employees in Britain… Nokia will be laying off 490 employees in its Finnish firm… Georgia State University is laying off 300 staff workers…

Seven Ways to Shrink Your Housing Costs

The recession’s not over yet, folks. Jobs continue to be lost, money is still tight. So why are you still paying the same rent, mortgage, or storage fees?

One upside to the crisis is that cutting those costs may be easier than ever. In many parts of the country, landlords are willing to negotiate on rent. New federal policies have made it easier to refinance home loans. Here are seven ways to pay less—and most are even sacrifice-free…

Artifacts from Your Former Life

For me, it’s a stash of overflowing bags crammed full of papers, pens, Post-It notes, trinkets, cards received, file folders, business cards.

For Sara, one of my co-founders, it’s boxes that contain art that once hung on the walls.

Everyone leaves their office with the bits and pieces that made up their former work life – how do you keep those artifacts from your former life from languishing, merely detritus of the old you?

Sara took her art and worked it into her apartment, combining the before and now. I’ve still got the bags waiting for me to sort through and toss.

Cards of Change has another idea for purging without purging: Use your business card, a symbolic signifier of who you are, to create change in your life.

The Recession Will End… Really, It Will!, the White House Says

Says who: Peter Orszag, White House budget officer

“The freefall in the economy seems to have stopped,” Mr. Orszag said during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “The analogy is there are some glimmers of sun shining through the trees, but we’re not out of the woods yet.” (via the Wall Street Journal)

Why it might be crap: Don’t take our word for it. Some in the blogosphere think it’s just more blue-sky spin:

Recession Briefing 5.19

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

Fire-sale auctions of mansions, yachts, sports cars and other trappings of wealth have become increasingly common as the rich become less rich. (Wall Street Journal)

New home building figures have unexpectedly hit a record low, with unemployment and foreclosures deterring builders. (CNN/Money)

“Green shoots of human compassion abound,” writes Derek Thompson. “So should we all stop worrying and learn to love a world with much less money?” (The Atlantic)

The unemployment rate for adult men is ahead of the national average at 9.4 percent versus 8.9 percent for all workers. The implications may hamper the recovery as families that once had male breadwinners struggle. (Reuters)

Screwed: 4,000 at American Express

A daily review of the employment fallout around the country and the world.

American Express plans to lay off 4,000 employees, in the U.S. and abroad… International Automotive Components has furloughed 133 employees, 110 of which will be permanent layoffs… Stutter Health plans to cut 121 IT positions effective July 17…