Quoted from Chicoman:Economy is B00MING? What part of the country do you live in?
The Federal Government is cooking the books so to speak when it comes to inflation. They say inflation is under control...below 2%. Well what they don't include in that statistic is that Food, Energy, Housing & Medical costs which have been on a steady climb for the past 10 years.....have increased over 3% annually. And that is true inflation and it's squeezing the average American family into poverty.
Sorry but with wages stagnant for the past 15+ years and rising inflation consumers are spending the same money, possibly slightly more due to cost increases for Food, Energy, Housing & Medical the true inflation rate is being disguised. It's really beginning to squeeze consumers now and you will see this in the next couple of years.
Ya...I thought basically the same thing when I read that. I guess that depends on area. "Booming" isn't the word, maybe starting to move a little. I was from the era of Booming and ...no...money is not flowing anywhere near what it was I don't care what news or paper says. We are no where near the flow at the bottom end that it was. I use to trip and fall into money and deals in any subject. It's not there now.
A dollar a game? I wouldn't/couldn't do! You might get one or two bucks out of me as I walk past, but at 50 and 75 cents? It's different on the mind for us broke guys. Instead of reaching in the wallet and stuffing a buck in and feeling the pain, a hand full of quarters or emptying the car ash tray just doesn't feel the same and will in the end get more in the game.
The bar scene in many areas is struggling for a few reasons. That is where when I was growing up the pinballs and pool tables were! Start drinking and play till you pass out. 
orrr got kicked out, drug out, etc... Those places are gone.
