fo*R*tune weighs in...

Pandering to the fearful...or placing their bets??
http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/23/magazines/fortune/barr_recession.fortune/index.htm

Consumers Finally Stop "Splurging"

...or spending enough on non-essentials to make the basket-case economy look healthy.
The consumer finally lost access to enough cash to buy a lot of stuff, besides paying for food and shelter. So opines Geoff Colvin of Fortune magazine. Admitting he's antsy about prediction, he doesn't see a recession...necessarily.

Deef's Recession Probability: 60%.