The state of the economy at the street level

[moXJO]

Actually was eating at a restaurant for lunch today, well more of a lunch desert.
They had to keep turning away customers because of the limit. Groups of people as well.

Must be severely impacting their bottom line. Lockdown will have to be adjusted soon.

 

[qldfrog]

FWIW
Got 3 contacts last 6 days about potential project, 2 via past colleagues/project partner and one via LinkedIn.
1 Australia,2 o/s focus..but done mostly here
Only interested maybe in one but economy definitively restarting.

 

[aus_trader]

But I feel a lot of younger homeowners and the vast majority of the general community who don't hang around these forums will walk straight into it.

 

[wayneL]

What I'm seeing this to sides to this economy. One side is definitely humming along. I just did something cheeky and put my prices up, nobody has batted an eyelid and I haven't even got time to respond to new enquiry.

But I was at one of the major Westfield centres Sunday arvo with the missus. It was grim, talking to the shop owners and restaurant owners (those that we're actually still open), they were in dire straits.

I can't help feeling that the economy is kind of feeling good on Lyrica and oxycodones, not really feeling the underlying structural damage at the moment, but once the prescription runs out the withdrawals are going to be horrendous.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

 

[wayneL]

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Many moons ago we used to take in troubled kids. Well we supported them they loved us and thought we were great. But without fail, once we started to withdraw unconditional support and teach them to actually stand on their own two feet, and make their way in the world, they didn't like us so much. Only one out of the seven we took in has ever kept in touch.

Scotty is going to have to keep splashing the cash around for at least another 2 years, therefore.

 

[PZ99]

Last of the big spenders - literally.

 

[Dona Ferentes]

Beer's flowing again. Never been a better time, they say. (NSW at least; restrictions apply)

For punters keen on a schooner over the long weekend, Smyth advocates supporting local independent brewers who have been hard hit by the coronavirus crisis.

Mainstream lagers will be flowing too, however, with giant brewer Lion Nathan shipping 20,000 kegs to NSW venues in the past week.
"We started anticipating more pubs would reopen about three weeks ago and cranked up our keg production," says Lion's national sales director Mark Powell. "Tooheys New and XXXX Gold especially, as they're staples of a pub lunch for many punters."

Powell says there has perhaps never been a better time to drink a schooner in NSW with so much fresh beer available and whistle-clean tap systems at pubs.
"A keg can sit at a venue for two or three weeks, but this new batch is coming straight off the line and into the hands of pub-goers..."

 

[wayneL]

Beer's flowing again. Never been a better time, they say. (NSW at least; restrictions apply)

Powell says there has perhaps never been a better time to drink a schooner in NSW with so much fresh beer available and whistle-clean tap systems at pubs.
"A keg can sit at a venue for two or three weeks, but this new batch is coming straight off the line and into the hands of pub-goers..."

My local will not be reopening at this stage


They're not bankrupt, they are going to be continuing to run their bottle shop. But the downside risk of reopening is too great they say, with the possibility of a second wave and being shut down again.

A real shame as it was a great family pub with good food and I could sit in there and have a punt and a few beers, the missus joining me later for a bloody good pub meal and a chat with the locals... Maybe a bit of karaoke if I got full enough.

 

[Knobby22]

The pub near work reopened (cbd). We booked for Friday lunch 5 guys, only one other group 4 guys, a couple and one guy on his computer. Don't know if they will be open next week after seeing this turnout.

 

[Dona Ferentes]

The pub near work reopened (cbd). We booked for Friday lunch 5 guys, only one other group 4 guys, a couple and one guy on his computer. Don't know if they will be open next week after seeing this turnout.

yep, TGIFriday drinks would be the money maker, in the city.

I think its likely smaller intimate locales will rebound. The barns with carparks, probably not .... and the CBD locales reliant on the 'push'; I can only think it's a behaviour with a use-by date.

 

[satanoperca]

Many moons ago we used to take in troubled kids. Well we supported them they loved us and thought we were great. But without fail, once we started to withdraw unconditional support and teach them to actually stand on their own two feet, and make their way in the world, they didn't like us so much. Only one out of the seven we took in has ever kept in touch.

Scotty is going to have to keep splashing the cash around for at least another 2 years, therefore.

While one out of seven sounds like a terrible fail rate, my hat goes off to you and your family.
1st you had the balls to do it (help others even know the odds where against you), when many others would not.
2nd, that is not a bad success rate, while I can understand it might be disappointing, your family still managed to impact a single life, well done, be proud, and f--kd the rest (maybe a little hard).

Compassion and understanding in society is something that can be discussed, but few implement.

 

[wayneL]

Not really street-level stuff but a bit about the disconnect between wall Street and main Street

 

[SirRumpole]

I went to K-Mart today and I've never seen so many empty shelves.

Appliances, cookware, glassware, towels, linen basically cleaned out.

Was this all the pensioners with their $750 handouts or the unemployed with jobkeeper allowance and time on their hands ?

Whatever, if it was stimulus spending its certainly worked, for now.

 

[macca]

I went to K-Mart today and I've never seen so many empty shelves.

Appliances, cookware, glassware, towels, linen basically cleaned out.

Was this all the pensioners with their $750 handouts or the unemployed with jobkeeper allowance and time on their hands ?

Whatever, if it was stimulus spending its certainly worked, for now.

There was an article in the paper about lack of supply from China due to CV19

 

[wayneL]

There was an article in the paper about lack of supply from China due to CV19

In my trade we can make horseshoes from bar stock, or buy pre-manufactured shoes, largely from China.

The economics dictate that pre manufactured shoes are more profitable. $15 a set, versus about $5 worth of material plus three quarters of an hour of labour plus tool cost and replacement... is a no brainer.

Blacksmithing skills certainly do come in handy because pre-manufactured shoes are in short supply. it means that I have come to appreciate those skills that I have built up.

The point being is that total reliance on overseas supply is as really bad idea. Those without the skills are out of business.

My situation is a microscopic example, but an exemplar of the broader situation

 

[qldfrog]

I went to K-Mart today and I've never seen so many empty shelves.

Appliances, cookware, glassware, towels, linen basically cleaned out.

Was this all the pensioners with their $750 handouts or the unemployed with jobkeeper allowance and time on their hands ?

Whatever, if it was stimulus spending its certainly worked, for now.

As Macca said, no container from China, I had to buy a new dishwasher a month ago, and we did run to ensure we could get one, no price bargaining: you get this one or you pay 100$ less next door, and join the waiting list...

 

[sptrawler]

I went to K-Mart today and I've never seen so many empty shelves.
Appliances, cookware, glassware, towels, linen basically cleaned out.
Was this all the pensioners with their $750 handouts or the unemployed with jobkeeper allowance and time on their hands ?
Whatever, if it was stimulus spending its certainly worked, for now.

We went over to the closest major shopping center today, it is the first week that most of the shops are open, unbelievable amount of shoppers and all carrying bags of bought articles.
This blip to the economy may be short lived, as we said earlier, it looks as if the Government has taken the majority of the financial hit not the business sector.
The next reporting season, in a couple of months, will paint a better picture IMO.

 

[jbocker]

As Macca said, no container from China, I had to buy a new dishwasher a month ago, and we did run to ensure we could get one, no price bargaining: you get this one or you pay 100$ less next door, and join the waiting list...

There is plenty of local solutions.. My favourite is the twin cycle on the left.

 

[macca]

There is plenty of local solutions.. My favourite is the twin cycle on the left.

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But when there is no kitty litter etc who is going to clean up the doggy doos

 

[frugal.rock]

Just press the button on top when they forget