U.S. Economy Shrinks at 4.8% Pace, Signaling Start of Recession
This is anecdotal and it might come across as bitter and tonedeaf  as someone who is not in a STEM job and cant see the bigger picture very well. Im a diesel engine tech who repairs those big trucks carrying food and shit tickets to grocery stores.  the fact that ANY market is completely detached from whats actually happening to Americans is frustrating.<p>My job just cut benefits and hours but we&#x27;re &quot;essential.&quot;
Remember those $1200 checks?  Im still waiting on mine.  Lenders and banks were supposed to start going easy on loans but ive had two emails and a phone call about the loan for my Silverado this month and wouldnt you know, the caller was excited to mention my stimulus check.<p>A guy who used to be my bartender now couch surfs a few days a week at my place while he looks for work. His mother is getting evicted from an assisted living center in a few days and his girlfriend is sick.  She &#x27;works at the Amazon&#x27; so she cant take any time off, but hes hoping if he gets a job at the Flying J at the edge of town he can switch places with her and she can take a few days off.<p>Shops are closing and nobody seems to care.  Ive counted 2 furniture stores, a consignment shop, a few barber shops, and half the god damn bars in this town including one that was burned to the ground &quot;mysteriously&quot; over the last two weeks.  Someone spray painted a swastika on the late night pizza joint.<p>So yeah this is a recession but it is so much worse than a lot of people think.  No school means poor kids roam the street like packs of feral dogs asking for money for food around here.  Half the country is out of work and the best Bloomberg can come up with is &quot;its the start of a recession dont you know!&quot;