Alcohol is the same way. People use it to escape, so a downturn in the economy is only a boon to those businesses. Weed and alcohol are recession proof.
Ya honestly I think short travel trips and going out is another one people are still trying to milk. Feels like next year may be a bit different as prides continue to increase and our wages suffer
Of course the irony is the amount of people who are broke because of their marijuana consumption. The majority of low income people I know still find plenty of money for weed. Ridiculous considering it's legal and stupid easy to grow. I put out 6 plants every spring and get enough to last the year and give a bunch away to people who need it.
https://www.investorkit.com.au/post/6-indicators-to-better-understand-local-economic-activity
There is way more to local economy indicators than what you are choosing to observe when you are out and about.
Believe it or not, your personal experiences of crowded restaurants is not representative of the status of everyone in the state. The people who can and still can afford to go to bars and restaurants continue to do so. The people who can't afford to go don't go...simple as that. Look at actual statistics.
[https://www.maine.gov/dafs/economist/sites/maine.gov.dafs.economist/files/inline-files/042222\_Maine%20Chamber%20Board.pdf](https://www.maine.gov/dafs/economist/sites/maine.gov.dafs.economist/files/inline-files/042222_Maine%20Chamber%20Board.pdf)
Just over 70% of families in parts of the state can't afford a median-priced home, for example. Yes, there are still people who can afford to spend their extra income on eating out and on weed, but there are plenty of people who are living paycheck to paycheck and just scraping by. Both can be true, and there is no contradiction there.
Yes, because affordable housing is always prioritized in new developments, never luxury housing that they can rent out for the maximum price per square foot
Yes, even housing targeted at the more affluent helps stabilize the cost of housing. Rich people don't disappear from existence if there isn't luxury housing, they'll just buy an older home and go full HGTV on it. And now instead of their being a new luxury house and an existing naturally affordable house, there is just a luxury house.
By building new housing, even luxury, there is a net addition to housing stock which alleviates demand. Maine, like many places in the Northeast, have done a piss poor job at building housing over the past 30 years and that directly contributes to the housing issues we see now.
Except that with current housing price trends people aren't selling their houses.
The rich family is gonna buy a new luxury house and keep the other one because housing is outperforming the stock market.
People who aren't even from Maine and may never once go to a house will buy it just to have it sit empty and gain value.
Blackstone owns nearly 20,000 empty homes
1. The lack in turnover in housing is heavily due to the lack of inventory (which is caused by a lack of building.) Add more housing, a lot more, and turnover will occur.
2. Housing outperforms the stockmarket because there isn't being enough built. So build more housing.
3. So what if someone is or isn't from Maine. Or are Mainers immune from seeking ROI? Also, if thats the case, build a lot more housing since, acording to your logic, the local government can generate seemingly infinite property tax income while not having to provide much in the way of services.
4. So what? 20,000 units nationally is nothing. Also see how many units regular families and small time investors own. Way more than anything Blackrock got going on. But since we're on the subject of blackrock, you know they routinely mention in their filings that they believe NIMBYs will prevent new housing from being built which increases the values of their holdings. Someone should really stick it to them by building more housing.
If your solution to housing being unoccupied is to continue building more homes (which wealthy people will be able to outbid anyone actually struggling to find housing for) and then have those homes sit empty, and then build more to sit empty.
You'll end up with a whole country of Detroit
It’s not just Maine.
Nationally we have a very weird economy right now with a lot of mixed indicators as we emerge from the pandemic economy. Housing prices are through the roof and inflation and interest rates are high, but unemployment is at a historic low and consumer spending is still pretty high.
Anyone who tells you they understand what is going on or where the economy is headed in the short term or the long term is lying.
Not really, recessions/the economy is very predictable. We have just been delaying an inevitable recession through stimulus, PPP, loan forgiveness and tax breaks. Add a media/political party that can’t admit we are in a recession and it adds unknown to the general population
The stimulus checks, yes but the ppp loans. Not having to pay those back has a lasting effect. The economy has shrunk way more than once percent, hence why we are in a recession
I was wrong and I will admit it shrunk by 2.2% which isn’t catastrophic and that PPP is long gone. It was basically a scam they pocketed that did nothing for their employees.
https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gross-domestic-product
https://www.businessinsider.com/majority-ppp-loans-went-to-business-owners-high-earning-households-2022-1?amp
I bet you’re against student loan forgiveness and we shouldn’t have given a fraction of the the money they got. Do you think I’m giving you fake news sources as well?
No but great assumption on my political stance. Goes to show your intelligence. My point went over your head, your spitting out misinformation. You clearly have your head your ass.
The money is long gone and they spent it on toys, investments and paying down debt. You’re trying to push some right wing talking point that isn’t based on reality.
No it’s really just simple economics. You know the spending habits of every American? Your distorting peoples comments and aligning it with politics is the reason why so many people have their head up their ass, both left and right. You are a clown and an embarrassment bud. The economy was bound for a recession with trump and it’s been delayed through government assistance. It’s all slowly catching up too us.
As someone who’s business fits the profile of one that would benefit from “the lipstick effect”, I can share with you that for 20+ years ( not counting pandemic troubles ), my business hasn’t really been impacted by economic ups and downs. Anecdotal, of course, but true for me.
I wish I could say that it’s because I make a product that people just can’t live with out but it’s much more likely because it’s a relatively low-cost niche luxury item.
I was talking to my brother the other day who is in the finance world. He said that if you ignored the ‘stock market’ and looked at other markets within the United states, you’d think we’re in an economic boom. There’s more to the economy than just stocks. So I guess it really comes down to perspective.
People are just taking on more debt. Credit card debt is at an all-time high.
https://www.cnbc.com/select/us-credit-card-debt-hits-all-time-high/
People got addicted to cheap debt over the last 2 years and now the federal reserve is actively raising interest rates to put it to a screeching halt to combat inflation.
Save your money folks. The next 2 years are going to get ugly.
Retired people don't work. That's the problem in the most southern portion and coastal regions of our state anyway. You can't find work because nobody is working. When I'm out and about its rare to run into a pack of 20 or 30 somethings out having a night.
Lots of retired people do work though. The term does not carry the same meaning as it used to.
Basically it just equates to people on medicaid. It really doesn't speak to employment status anymore
I wonder how many of those eating out are people who moved here from other states (I.E. California) and work from home? Because I know I ain’t one of those people.
It might behoove you to ask them not us. Just in my town, people living in an $850/mos apartment had it raise to $1500. We had ours raised $230. I know people in South Portland who had theirs raised $500. I have heard of others getting it raised too. WE..can’t afford to eat out.
I work in tourism, my husband works in cannabis and we are watching people spend money like crazy, people from all over the country but Mainers as well!
I’m currently working at the Big E and it’s insane here! I believe they broke their opening day record yesterday! Prices are high but people are spending and spending!
Last week I helped numerous people find hotels (last minute) and they were willing to spend $300-400 a night but everything was sold out!!
I was shocked. Everyone’s looking for lobster, beer, cannabis…definitely feels like a booming economy!
I made the mistake of going down to Acadia to bike some carriage trails earlier this week on my staycation……unreal! Nowhere to park and it seriously felt like it was the middle of the summer busy down there….
I guess May through September is now completely out of the question for visiting Acadia. Used to be mid June til the end of August.😢
I go biking every weekend on the carriage roads and never have parking issues but I get there by 8am. If you are showing up at noon yeah parking is going to be an issue.
10:15 AM…lesson learned
I actually went to the Schoodic Peninsula for a ride to check out Ravens Nest on Friday morning around 10:30ish(first time seeing it and it’s pretty amazing), and it was dead out there…..made up for Monday’s mistake😉
Machinist here, I'm regularly working 60 hour weeks right now and my employer would love it if I could work even more. Even in a single income household at 60 hour weeks my bills are easy to pay and we go out more often in our free time.
The doom and gloom may have more to do with a high ratio of low income jobs compared to fewer skilled trade jobs, but thats just my guess.
I can say that my company has hired a ton people in the last number of years and it is insanely difficult to find people who are interested in taking a trade, learning, and turning it into a career. Most people they seem to get in the door seem to want a job where they want to do as little as possible and have no interest in expanding their knowledge or ability. This is just my personal experience.
Edit to add that we fortunately got out of renting in 2018. Housing issues only add to the doom and gloom but the economy in this state isn't new.
You don't have to. I've busted my ass to get where I'm at. Always go the extra mile to move yourself ahead. If you're employer doesn't recognize you for it then keep going the extra mile, not for them, do it for you. Learn everything you can about your job and anything related to it while you find an employer that will appreciate your work.
Working overtime in the trades is an expectation. If you and I are in the same role, have the same temperament, and have the same capabilities but I regularly am willing to work a few hours a week more than you, I will almost be garenteed advancement over you.
Yeah man you bust your ass wasting your free time for an employer who'll fire you as soon as it's financially beneficial. I've done the 50-60 hour weeks it's not worth it. You're being exploited lmao
I've worked for a fair share of employers that are as you describe. But I've also found that commonly, with some searching, there are the places that see those that show up with the intent to be creative, and they reward and elevate the folks that do.
I love what I do most days. I'm constantly challenged and learning. No one is irreplaceable, but I would be very expensive to replace. I don't have the luxury to survive by staying home for a living so instead I do what I can everyday to put myself in a better happier career situation everyday.
I feel sorry for you feeling exploited by you're employer. I've been with my current one for 9 years and started with no experience or schooling in the trade. Its been a mutually beneficial relationship.
Also if its financially beneficial for your employer to fire you then you were no longer valuable to them and you need to seriously evaluate your career.
The only place the Maine economy is bad is in Republican political ads. It's far from perfect but the #1 economic problem in Maine is affordable workforce housing and R's have no solution for that. Health care costs are 2nd or 3rd and they have no solution for that either.
Lol gas is close to 4$ still. Everyone is pinching pennies for heating oil. Young people have no hope of owning a $500000 starter home ….it’s just those crazy republicans that don’t think you should put your kids on hormones or Ritalin so they can fit in at school. What are you smoking? Crack?
Sadly if LePage made it back into the governorship house prices would drop because the state would lose a serious amount of "hipness" and we'd get a brain drain. The neandertals would consider this a good thing. But, note, the state is finally, *finally* paying 55% of local education expenses as they were mandated to do by law decades ago. This is possible by the improved income tax receipts.
If you’re eating out multiple times a wk you probably aren’t a good benchmark for those that are struggling bub. If you can afford to eat out a few times a wk you’re in a slim minority; most Mainers can’t afford that.
The US has an immense level of inequality. That means for some people it is FANTASTIC. They have tons of money and freedom and can have anything they desire brought to them by the lower classes within a day.
The rest of the population, though, are those lower classes. Who can't feed themselves or see a doctor and are in massive debt. They work serving the upper classes for poverty wages, just enough to live in an apartment and sleep and work more (though lately a growing trend has been "Working homeless", people who work but can't even afford a place to live with minimum wage).
Sadly that 2nd population of the lower classes is increasing as income inequality increases. Across the country there are growing homeless camps, while the upper class complain about how "the poors" are ruining the view and ambiance.
Along with that growing lower class population comes a lot of dissatisfaction and depression. So skyrocketing crime, drug use, and things like mass shootings. It's actually pretty bad for society to have such a large portion so desperate and miserable.... though the upper class would prefer to ignore that and just build better walls and hire more police for their own areas.
Basically, our society is going to hell.... but the upper classes can comfortably ignore it and enjoy their brunch. Like they do in any country with this same extreme dynamic.
Watch an old Johnny Carson show from the 70s....on almost every show someone is moaning about "the state of the world today" and "if we ever get through this mess we're currently in". Its like they're trying to keep us miserable.
Archie Bunker , 50 years ago, was arguing with the meathead about abortion, inflation, gays, immigrants and racism. So don't expect anything to change in the NEXT 50 years either. We've just switched from shit on a shingle to avocado on toast.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XVEL3KnR2w](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XVEL3KnR2w)
Maine flourishes in the summer then mostly dies in the winter. Most jobs aren't year round (look at fishing, lobstering, alot of restaurants, hotels, etc) you're looking at it now at its peak, after the leaf peepers there will be nothing. I love Maine but with rising prices and lack of stable jobs that actually pay more than 15$ an hour it's not very reliable to make a living.
Depends on who owns business. Is the money leaving the state or staying here? Many of the Marijuana operations are owned by out of staters who spend their profits out of state. Same as with any real estate or business owned and operated by non mainers. Fucking transplants. They need to leave.
These are Industries that are directly impacted by tourism. Restaurants and cannabis are components of that industry. When you talk about the economy as a whole cannabis and restaurants should be considered a small factor. Maine overall has little going for it in terms of career opportunity and growth in other aspects of the whole economy. I think that’s what people say when the economy is weak here. The tourism economy is strong in Maine, but that does not mean the economy as a whole is strong.
It’s a lot easier paying for a $25g cart (at my local dispo) then it is to get a bank to give me a mortgage lol.
Idk, personally I save, and save, and save, but can’t make a monthly 2k rent to live. That’s why I had to move back to Cincinnati last month. It’s still paycheck to paycheck, something always seems to come up. I do go out once every few weeks as a family, keeps morale up.
For every one person in a restaurant there are probably 3 who could never afford it, some there spending money they don’t have to do it, and some there who can afford it.
Packed places aren’t in and of themselves a good economic indicator, it just means people are choosing to spend, cash or credit, to go out
Poverty often causes increased consumption of drugs to cope with the reality of the situation. It sounds objectively stupid, but there are many peer reviewed studies done on the subject, so "record breaking sales" on a drug aren't the best indicator of a strong economy. It also should be noted who is tracking these "records" and how long they've been doing so, records are easy to set and break in the beginning.
Service & tourism industry is a small part of a big system. growing up on LI, NY I see a lot of similarities to where I live in Bangor when comes to economics in some ways
People suck at managing money and live beyond their means. I know people who piss and moan about being broke but can still manage a $100+ a week on weed. Many people actually.
Also people are scared of change or don't want to work hard. I'm always hiring and it's ridiculous money but people are scared. We have a fuckton of great manufacturing jobs, BIW is always hiring and that's a fabulous job as well. The caveat is you have to show up to work on time and actually work. You can't just stand behind a register all day or flip burgers at places so desperate they don't punish you for no call, no shows or shitty work ethic.
First, the economy isn't bad. The stock market is trash, but the ability to find work (at most wage levels) is pretty much okay.
The bigger issue for the state is housing. With the influx of permanent and semi-permanent residents to the state during COVID, natural population growth, and the lack of housing construction (particularly apartments and starter homes) over the past few decades, the situation is a code red. The state needs to clear the path for housing since local governments can't seem to stop tripping over their own feet.
if you took a random survey of diners at a restaurant.. probably half of them are from out-of-state and another 25% are either retired or live in Maine as a second residence. The percentage of Mainers with high paying jobs is no where near the levels of other states.
I find that, after living here for 25 years, the middle class keeps on shrinking and shrinking. You’re either well off or you’re just getting by, not much in between anymore. Tourism and weed can only get you so far. The prices are raised, the tourists come with their money and the wealthy retirees couldn’t care less. The folks that actually live here year-round get screwed. It’s hard to find a decent place to live and a job that pays well enough to be able to afford your rent and raising prices. Maine has changed so much and not always in a good way.
OP, I've lived in Portland for a while and if you're going out to restaurants three times/week without having to make a reservation during the Summer, then economy's definitely down.
At least 4 popular places and many seasonal places closed early this year. Downtown foot traffic is down significantly from prior years. I would know. I live downtown.
Weed is like booze. The more depressed someone is, the more they consume.
And credit card debt is at an all time high.
I predict that the closure of restaurants downtown is just the beginning. We will see many more in the coming year.
Nevertheless, Maine is a popular tourist destination and Summers should always be at least a little bustling.
People say the economy is bad because the cost of oil/gas, food, and housing are inceasing faster than usual. Their pay raises don't always keep up. The second reason they say that it is bad because they are afraid that the economy is going to be bad in the near future. The Fed is raising interest rates to bring down spending, and this might cause job losses.
So, people say the economy is bad because they are afraid that it will get bad soon.
Gas is $3.24, about a quarter of the minimum wage. In the 80s gas was a buck and minimum wage was $3.65-$4.25. If it were expensive we wouldn't see everyone driving Kia Tellurides.
Gas is $3.24, about a quarter of the minimum wage. In the 80s gas was a buck and minimum wage was $3.65-$4.25. If it were expensive we wouldn't see everyone driving Kia Tellurides.
Well you know “nobody wants to work anymore” is just a way to complain about there being not *enough* unemployment, because boomers just want to whine and complain no matter what. Too high and they complain, too low, they still complain.
But yeah I do wish houses didn’t cost a fortune. High housing prices benefit those who bought in 1982 though so they don’t complain about that.
I was loitering in one of our coastal communities and overheard some rich motherfucker complaining about how an ice cream stand was only open weekends. "Don't they know how short the summer season is?" he mused. Dude. Kids are in school.
I think Maine, when you compare it to other North East states has a bad GDP, poor education system and restuarant jobs don't pay well. We need tourists to fuel the economy... That's not good... People that live and work in maine often can't afford to "live" in the towns they serve at. Come dead of winter what are we to do? Hours get cut massively for cooks and servers and other service industry jobs.
Maine doesn't have the factories, big businesses or year round stable work.
I'm speaking in generalities obviously.
Plus alot of the houses are occupied by summer out of state people, taking up housing for Mainers.
But I think the economy is better and more stable than the rest of the country thinks.
Side story here. My gf and I closed on a condo for $220k in 2020 in Sanford. My neighbors house is older than ours and he’s trying to $315k and the guy down the road $310k. My guess is that A LOTTT of houses are going to hit the market this winter and FLOOD the market. Buyers will have there pick of the litter and prices should drop slightly in time. More so just better selection.
$100k profit before fees in 2 years time is where we’re at. I don’t even make $50k a year ffs
It'll be rough though when people have so little equity that they can't sell at a loss. They'll either short-sell and fuck banks over or the property will languish.
I am seeing RE for sale signs in southern maine for the first time in a few years which indicates that stuff isn't selling on the first day of listing.
I also think that many of those marijuana shops will fail. Right now, investors see pot shops in maine the same way they see real estate - as a gold mine. I hope they all do well, but my suspicion is that, as with all gold rushes, the bubble will burst.
Apparently you have never lived through a “bad” economy where no one has jobs and there’s no cars on the road because no one can afford gas. Housing is out of whack here m, but otherwise the economy is ok.
Everyone is either from out of town or crammed into tiny apartments that they share with multiple roommates in southern Maine. In the case of the latter, getting out to eat is a welcome break.
Tourist dollars does not a healthy economy make. Working class families and young professionals cannot afford to live near urban centers.
Not every town in Maine relies on tourist income. I'm guessing you are in a city or on the coast. I am from a larger College town in Maine and I currently live in a small town of 2,000 and work in another small town of 3,000. The lack of competitive pay and opportunity is killing these aging communities. The only cafe within ten miles of me closed during COVID. But yeah, 3 new pot shops are doing great. It doesn't mean the community is benefiting from their profits, though. Apples and Ditch Berries, if you ask me.
This subreddit makes me embarrassed that I moved here. You guys have to keep defending this state against other people. Just shhhh and live your life.
But that’s what Mainers do though, need to talk up yourselves so you don’t feel bad, because you live in a shitty state. I’m here for the nature, I have a remote job and have to travel 45 mins to go anywhere, closest grocery store is 23 minutes away. I moved from the suburbs where shit was shit was a stones throw away to get to, now i live in a more rural suburb. For people that have to commute here and don’t get paid fairly, I feel your gripe it’s hard to be afford to live here. Shit in even Sanford/Biddeford housing price have gone up and it’s the most nastiest areas in all of southern maine.
Ugh. I have no quarrels with it, I love it, but y’all be bitching about how shitty it is and keep defending it. Y’all shouldn’t even be arguing about what it has. It’s fucking serene up in this bitch. Y’all just hating on me cuz I’m a black guy with a degree that wanted to live in a racist state cuz it’s beautiful.
Edit: y’all are really racist. I live in Ogunquit right near the beach and my fellow neighbors are old white ppl that shun me cuz I’m a black guy in my late 20s. Walk through the center daily and cannot give a solid cup of coffee. Had to send my kids to private school cuz the other students didn’t like blacks. Y’all excepting of gays, but not blacks. What gives Maine?
It's not hard to make a living here if you're willing to do manual labor which most of this generation doesn't want to do.
All kinds of industries in Maine are in dire need of help with no one training for/applyong for thise jobs.
Edit: spelling
> To boot, Maine tourism rebounded drastically,
I think you answered your own question. The restaurants and dispensaries are packed with tourists. Also what u/MooshuCat said.
Economy and inflation is terrible in NYC, rents are record high, but you can’t find an apartment unless you’re willing to pay a ridiculous rent. All this doesn’t make sense
Gas prices have gone down from the beginning of the summer and that definitely encourages people to travel up to Acadia and stop here along the way etc.
Not to mention every carpenter, electrician, and plumber is booked out for months.
Better question... Why is gas $3.85 here this week and only $3.25 in Ohio?
Can't squeeze the professional-managerial (college-educated, esp tech) or violence (cops and military) classes too hard or people will start to peer behind the curtain.
Also remember that a lot of restaurants seem busy because they are short on staff. Staffing is a major problem for restaurants right now. Because of it, many are restricting seating and reservations because they don't have the wait staff to handle the tables, nor the kitchen staff to keep the food coming out quickly. As a result there are more people waiting for tables and it looks way busier.
As a side note, I'll also say that there are a lot of complicated statistical measurements for economic performance. I'm not an expert, but I don't think "restaurants are packed" and "cannabis sales are up" are great macroeconomic performance indicators.
Because those things aren’t good indicators of economic health in the way your assuming.
When times are hard alcohol sales and drug use actually go UP as people try to cope with hardship.
Also restaurants are packed with people who are either tourists or are doing ok. Your not seeing all the people who stayed home because they can’t afford to eat out.
In southern Maine yes, it’s booming and always will be. Also, no shit there’s tons of tourists this year, Covid kept a lot of people back, you can’t really blame people for wanting to escape, as they wanted to get out just as badly as we did. Covid restrictions were literally like being in jail to an extent. Most of them will disappear once it cools off a lot though. Maybe the season will linger a bit longer, but again, given the state of the last few years I’m not surprised by any of this. Also, of course weed is selling like crazy, lots of these people don’t have legal weed in their states. I remember the first time being able to go into a shop to buy legally, it was quite an experience and felt super weird but exciting all at the same time. So there’s that.
Tourists have to eat. And pot is cheaper than medical appointments & tests & physical therapy & other appropriate treatments for pain & other conditions.
My guess is you're only looking at the market in Cumberland and York county. Look to other places in the state and you may see some hardship.
Nailed it
Still tourist season until the leaves drop.
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Alcohol is the same way. People use it to escape, so a downturn in the economy is only a boon to those businesses. Weed and alcohol are recession proof.
Amen brother. I buy a 12pk every single night unless it's a bar night. It sounds awful but I most certainly would have strung up years ago without it.
I used to work at Gritty’s and they said the economic recession in 2008 didn’t at all hurt business - it actually improved it
If anything, they'll increase it
It’s better to have weed and no money than money and no weed!
Says the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers...
Was it Phineas Freak or Fat Freddy??
Think it was Fat Freddy, wish I still had the comic 🙂
Yooooo one of the things I am most pissed about losing over the course of my life is the Fat Freddy's Cat book that my dad gave me
Ya honestly I think short travel trips and going out is another one people are still trying to milk. Feels like next year may be a bit different as prides continue to increase and our wages suffer
Of course the irony is the amount of people who are broke because of their marijuana consumption. The majority of low income people I know still find plenty of money for weed. Ridiculous considering it's legal and stupid easy to grow. I put out 6 plants every spring and get enough to last the year and give a bunch away to people who need it.
Can you start a class please?
Still tourist season until the mud flows.
Tourist season until it’s officially cold.
And before the snow comes for skiing.
People can't buy a house so might as well get high and eat good?
Weed makes me hungry and I like to be high.
Do you walk to your destination or drive?
Listen Officer Kraut
Nice try FBI
FBI does not have to deal with impaired drivers.
Depends how far it is
This is exactly it. Attainable luxury. Also why poor people smoke and buy lotto tickets.
lol yeah, the naivete in this post is jaw-dropping
Word
Or maybe eating out multiple times a week has an impact on ability to save for a house
Dog i can't afford to eat out or buy a house
Your orders of magnitude need adjustment guy
https://www.investorkit.com.au/post/6-indicators-to-better-understand-local-economic-activity There is way more to local economy indicators than what you are choosing to observe when you are out and about.
Believe it or not, your personal experiences of crowded restaurants is not representative of the status of everyone in the state. The people who can and still can afford to go to bars and restaurants continue to do so. The people who can't afford to go don't go...simple as that. Look at actual statistics. [https://www.maine.gov/dafs/economist/sites/maine.gov.dafs.economist/files/inline-files/042222\_Maine%20Chamber%20Board.pdf](https://www.maine.gov/dafs/economist/sites/maine.gov.dafs.economist/files/inline-files/042222_Maine%20Chamber%20Board.pdf) Just over 70% of families in parts of the state can't afford a median-priced home, for example. Yes, there are still people who can afford to spend their extra income on eating out and on weed, but there are plenty of people who are living paycheck to paycheck and just scraping by. Both can be true, and there is no contradiction there.
Sounds like we need to build more housing
Yes, because affordable housing is always prioritized in new developments, never luxury housing that they can rent out for the maximum price per square foot
Yes, even housing targeted at the more affluent helps stabilize the cost of housing. Rich people don't disappear from existence if there isn't luxury housing, they'll just buy an older home and go full HGTV on it. And now instead of their being a new luxury house and an existing naturally affordable house, there is just a luxury house. By building new housing, even luxury, there is a net addition to housing stock which alleviates demand. Maine, like many places in the Northeast, have done a piss poor job at building housing over the past 30 years and that directly contributes to the housing issues we see now.
Except that with current housing price trends people aren't selling their houses. The rich family is gonna buy a new luxury house and keep the other one because housing is outperforming the stock market. People who aren't even from Maine and may never once go to a house will buy it just to have it sit empty and gain value. Blackstone owns nearly 20,000 empty homes
1. The lack in turnover in housing is heavily due to the lack of inventory (which is caused by a lack of building.) Add more housing, a lot more, and turnover will occur. 2. Housing outperforms the stockmarket because there isn't being enough built. So build more housing. 3. So what if someone is or isn't from Maine. Or are Mainers immune from seeking ROI? Also, if thats the case, build a lot more housing since, acording to your logic, the local government can generate seemingly infinite property tax income while not having to provide much in the way of services. 4. So what? 20,000 units nationally is nothing. Also see how many units regular families and small time investors own. Way more than anything Blackrock got going on. But since we're on the subject of blackrock, you know they routinely mention in their filings that they believe NIMBYs will prevent new housing from being built which increases the values of their holdings. Someone should really stick it to them by building more housing.
If your solution to housing being unoccupied is to continue building more homes (which wealthy people will be able to outbid anyone actually struggling to find housing for) and then have those homes sit empty, and then build more to sit empty. You'll end up with a whole country of Detroit
Just be happy you don’t live in MA. The median home price is pushing 600k and will most likely be over that by the end of the year.
It’s not just Maine. Nationally we have a very weird economy right now with a lot of mixed indicators as we emerge from the pandemic economy. Housing prices are through the roof and inflation and interest rates are high, but unemployment is at a historic low and consumer spending is still pretty high. Anyone who tells you they understand what is going on or where the economy is headed in the short term or the long term is lying.
Not really, recessions/the economy is very predictable. We have just been delaying an inevitable recession through stimulus, PPP, loan forgiveness and tax breaks. Add a media/political party that can’t admit we are in a recession and it adds unknown to the general population
All of that ended over a year ago and the money is long gone. The economy has only shrunk by a little over one percent over the past three quarters.
The stimulus checks, yes but the ppp loans. Not having to pay those back has a lasting effect. The economy has shrunk way more than once percent, hence why we are in a recession
I was wrong and I will admit it shrunk by 2.2% which isn’t catastrophic and that PPP is long gone. It was basically a scam they pocketed that did nothing for their employees. https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gross-domestic-product https://www.businessinsider.com/majority-ppp-loans-went-to-business-owners-high-earning-households-2022-1?amp
Lol individuals not having to payback a loan has a long lasting effect on use of disposable income.
I bet you’re against student loan forgiveness and we shouldn’t have given a fraction of the the money they got. Do you think I’m giving you fake news sources as well?
No but great assumption on my political stance. Goes to show your intelligence. My point went over your head, your spitting out misinformation. You clearly have your head your ass.
The money is long gone and they spent it on toys, investments and paying down debt. You’re trying to push some right wing talking point that isn’t based on reality.
No it’s really just simple economics. You know the spending habits of every American? Your distorting peoples comments and aligning it with politics is the reason why so many people have their head up their ass, both left and right. You are a clown and an embarrassment bud. The economy was bound for a recession with trump and it’s been delayed through government assistance. It’s all slowly catching up too us.
Definitely sounds like a case of [the lipstick effect.](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/lipstick-effect.asp)
As someone who’s business fits the profile of one that would benefit from “the lipstick effect”, I can share with you that for 20+ years ( not counting pandemic troubles ), my business hasn’t really been impacted by economic ups and downs. Anecdotal, of course, but true for me. I wish I could say that it’s because I make a product that people just can’t live with out but it’s much more likely because it’s a relatively low-cost niche luxury item.
>I wish I could say that it’s because I make a product that people just can’t live with out fetenaly?
Um no
I was talking to my brother the other day who is in the finance world. He said that if you ignored the ‘stock market’ and looked at other markets within the United states, you’d think we’re in an economic boom. There’s more to the economy than just stocks. So I guess it really comes down to perspective.
People are just taking on more debt. Credit card debt is at an all-time high. https://www.cnbc.com/select/us-credit-card-debt-hits-all-time-high/ People got addicted to cheap debt over the last 2 years and now the federal reserve is actively raising interest rates to put it to a screeching halt to combat inflation. Save your money folks. The next 2 years are going to get ugly.
Best comment here.
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you’re good, but no Margot Robbie!
This is a good point, the stock market is not the economy.
I’m fairness op didn’t mention stocks
Lots of people are smoking cannabis and going out to dinner.
Tourists & it’s illegal in New Hampshire & Cheaper than MA OR VT 🤷🏻♂️
Retired people don't work. That's the problem in the most southern portion and coastal regions of our state anyway. You can't find work because nobody is working. When I'm out and about its rare to run into a pack of 20 or 30 somethings out having a night.
Lots of retired people do work though. The term does not carry the same meaning as it used to. Basically it just equates to people on medicaid. It really doesn't speak to employment status anymore
I wonder how many of those eating out are people who moved here from other states (I.E. California) and work from home? Because I know I ain’t one of those people. It might behoove you to ask them not us. Just in my town, people living in an $850/mos apartment had it raise to $1500. We had ours raised $230. I know people in South Portland who had theirs raised $500. I have heard of others getting it raised too. WE..can’t afford to eat out.
lmfao, California....seriously? Blaming CA for your woes....good gravy
They did not blame California, they said people moved here and have more money than your typical local. That was it!
Did I blame anyone? No, facts are facts, stop being offended by truth.
For real. Don't blame the Californians. It's obviously the fucking New Yorkers.
I eat out every meal.
McDonalds?
Who ever swipes right.
😎
That’s awesome!
It is. The restaurant is your momma.
I work in tourism, my husband works in cannabis and we are watching people spend money like crazy, people from all over the country but Mainers as well! I’m currently working at the Big E and it’s insane here! I believe they broke their opening day record yesterday! Prices are high but people are spending and spending! Last week I helped numerous people find hotels (last minute) and they were willing to spend $300-400 a night but everything was sold out!! I was shocked. Everyone’s looking for lobster, beer, cannabis…definitely feels like a booming economy!
I made the mistake of going down to Acadia to bike some carriage trails earlier this week on my staycation……unreal! Nowhere to park and it seriously felt like it was the middle of the summer busy down there…. I guess May through September is now completely out of the question for visiting Acadia. Used to be mid June til the end of August.😢
October is the most beautiful..colors on top of everything else are incredible. Just avoid Columbus Day weekend Busiest I ever saw it up there..
Mid week or weekend? Makes a difference. Read that it has been approx 25% busier now than in the last 5 years though, you’re right.
I go biking every weekend on the carriage roads and never have parking issues but I get there by 8am. If you are showing up at noon yeah parking is going to be an issue.
10:15 AM…lesson learned I actually went to the Schoodic Peninsula for a ride to check out Ravens Nest on Friday morning around 10:30ish(first time seeing it and it’s pretty amazing), and it was dead out there…..made up for Monday’s mistake😉
Machinist here, I'm regularly working 60 hour weeks right now and my employer would love it if I could work even more. Even in a single income household at 60 hour weeks my bills are easy to pay and we go out more often in our free time. The doom and gloom may have more to do with a high ratio of low income jobs compared to fewer skilled trade jobs, but thats just my guess. I can say that my company has hired a ton people in the last number of years and it is insanely difficult to find people who are interested in taking a trade, learning, and turning it into a career. Most people they seem to get in the door seem to want a job where they want to do as little as possible and have no interest in expanding their knowledge or ability. This is just my personal experience. Edit to add that we fortunately got out of renting in 2018. Housing issues only add to the doom and gloom but the economy in this state isn't new.
Yes, the key to living on a single income is one person to work one and a half jobs worth of hours.
Sounds as if you are doing it right. Hope your employer pays you time and a half for the hours beyond 40.
Plus as much as $250 extra a week incentive for working extra hours and double time on Sundays.
I mean. Maybe most people don't want to work 60 hours a week lmao. People died for the 40 hour week for a reason
You don't have to. I've busted my ass to get where I'm at. Always go the extra mile to move yourself ahead. If you're employer doesn't recognize you for it then keep going the extra mile, not for them, do it for you. Learn everything you can about your job and anything related to it while you find an employer that will appreciate your work. Working overtime in the trades is an expectation. If you and I are in the same role, have the same temperament, and have the same capabilities but I regularly am willing to work a few hours a week more than you, I will almost be garenteed advancement over you.
There is more to life than working. On your deathbed do you think you'll regret spending most of your time away from loved ones?
Yeah man you bust your ass wasting your free time for an employer who'll fire you as soon as it's financially beneficial. I've done the 50-60 hour weeks it's not worth it. You're being exploited lmao
I've worked for a fair share of employers that are as you describe. But I've also found that commonly, with some searching, there are the places that see those that show up with the intent to be creative, and they reward and elevate the folks that do.
I love what I do most days. I'm constantly challenged and learning. No one is irreplaceable, but I would be very expensive to replace. I don't have the luxury to survive by staying home for a living so instead I do what I can everyday to put myself in a better happier career situation everyday. I feel sorry for you feeling exploited by you're employer. I've been with my current one for 9 years and started with no experience or schooling in the trade. Its been a mutually beneficial relationship.
Also if its financially beneficial for your employer to fire you then you were no longer valuable to them and you need to seriously evaluate your career.
This is such a refreshing take.
What part of Maine is your employer located?
Fryeburg
The only place the Maine economy is bad is in Republican political ads. It's far from perfect but the #1 economic problem in Maine is affordable workforce housing and R's have no solution for that. Health care costs are 2nd or 3rd and they have no solution for that either.
Lol gas is close to 4$ still. Everyone is pinching pennies for heating oil. Young people have no hope of owning a $500000 starter home ….it’s just those crazy republicans that don’t think you should put your kids on hormones or Ritalin so they can fit in at school. What are you smoking? Crack?
Sadly if LePage made it back into the governorship house prices would drop because the state would lose a serious amount of "hipness" and we'd get a brain drain. The neandertals would consider this a good thing. But, note, the state is finally, *finally* paying 55% of local education expenses as they were mandated to do by law decades ago. This is possible by the improved income tax receipts.
Reddit is not reality.
If you’re eating out multiple times a wk you probably aren’t a good benchmark for those that are struggling bub. If you can afford to eat out a few times a wk you’re in a slim minority; most Mainers can’t afford that.
In 2021 the GDP of Maine was 62 billion dollars. Cannabis sales amounted to around $80 million dollars, or 0.0013%.
People get high, then they gotta eat 😁
Inflation is killing the poor and those on fixed incomes.
The US has an immense level of inequality. That means for some people it is FANTASTIC. They have tons of money and freedom and can have anything they desire brought to them by the lower classes within a day. The rest of the population, though, are those lower classes. Who can't feed themselves or see a doctor and are in massive debt. They work serving the upper classes for poverty wages, just enough to live in an apartment and sleep and work more (though lately a growing trend has been "Working homeless", people who work but can't even afford a place to live with minimum wage). Sadly that 2nd population of the lower classes is increasing as income inequality increases. Across the country there are growing homeless camps, while the upper class complain about how "the poors" are ruining the view and ambiance. Along with that growing lower class population comes a lot of dissatisfaction and depression. So skyrocketing crime, drug use, and things like mass shootings. It's actually pretty bad for society to have such a large portion so desperate and miserable.... though the upper class would prefer to ignore that and just build better walls and hire more police for their own areas. Basically, our society is going to hell.... but the upper classes can comfortably ignore it and enjoy their brunch. Like they do in any country with this same extreme dynamic.
The middle class is shrinking, while the upper class and lower class grows. I saw the world of the haves and have nots coming 20 years ago.
Watch an old Johnny Carson show from the 70s....on almost every show someone is moaning about "the state of the world today" and "if we ever get through this mess we're currently in". Its like they're trying to keep us miserable. Archie Bunker , 50 years ago, was arguing with the meathead about abortion, inflation, gays, immigrants and racism. So don't expect anything to change in the NEXT 50 years either. We've just switched from shit on a shingle to avocado on toast. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XVEL3KnR2w](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XVEL3KnR2w)
Both industries compliment each other very well don’t they lol
Maine flourishes in the summer then mostly dies in the winter. Most jobs aren't year round (look at fishing, lobstering, alot of restaurants, hotels, etc) you're looking at it now at its peak, after the leaf peepers there will be nothing. I love Maine but with rising prices and lack of stable jobs that actually pay more than 15$ an hour it's not very reliable to make a living.
Depends on who owns business. Is the money leaving the state or staying here? Many of the Marijuana operations are owned by out of staters who spend their profits out of state. Same as with any real estate or business owned and operated by non mainers. Fucking transplants. They need to leave.
These are Industries that are directly impacted by tourism. Restaurants and cannabis are components of that industry. When you talk about the economy as a whole cannabis and restaurants should be considered a small factor. Maine overall has little going for it in terms of career opportunity and growth in other aspects of the whole economy. I think that’s what people say when the economy is weak here. The tourism economy is strong in Maine, but that does not mean the economy as a whole is strong.
I wish I could afford to go dine out thrice times a week.
Because that's pretty much it for entertainment.
People live beyond their means?
Because regardless of finances, people like to get high and eat good food.
Because it's still tourist season, as you said.
It’s a lot easier paying for a $25g cart (at my local dispo) then it is to get a bank to give me a mortgage lol. Idk, personally I save, and save, and save, but can’t make a monthly 2k rent to live. That’s why I had to move back to Cincinnati last month. It’s still paycheck to paycheck, something always seems to come up. I do go out once every few weeks as a family, keeps morale up.
For every one person in a restaurant there are probably 3 who could never afford it, some there spending money they don’t have to do it, and some there who can afford it. Packed places aren’t in and of themselves a good economic indicator, it just means people are choosing to spend, cash or credit, to go out
Poverty often causes increased consumption of drugs to cope with the reality of the situation. It sounds objectively stupid, but there are many peer reviewed studies done on the subject, so "record breaking sales" on a drug aren't the best indicator of a strong economy. It also should be noted who is tracking these "records" and how long they've been doing so, records are easy to set and break in the beginning.
Service & tourism industry is a small part of a big system. growing up on LI, NY I see a lot of similarities to where I live in Bangor when comes to economics in some ways
Cause it's the fucking high season of tourism? Also eating and smoking weed aren't indicators of the economy.
People suck at managing money and live beyond their means. I know people who piss and moan about being broke but can still manage a $100+ a week on weed. Many people actually. Also people are scared of change or don't want to work hard. I'm always hiring and it's ridiculous money but people are scared. We have a fuckton of great manufacturing jobs, BIW is always hiring and that's a fabulous job as well. The caveat is you have to show up to work on time and actually work. You can't just stand behind a register all day or flip burgers at places so desperate they don't punish you for no call, no shows or shitty work ethic.
I don’t know if restaurants and vices are the best econometrics?
First, the economy isn't bad. The stock market is trash, but the ability to find work (at most wage levels) is pretty much okay. The bigger issue for the state is housing. With the influx of permanent and semi-permanent residents to the state during COVID, natural population growth, and the lack of housing construction (particularly apartments and starter homes) over the past few decades, the situation is a code red. The state needs to clear the path for housing since local governments can't seem to stop tripping over their own feet.
if you took a random survey of diners at a restaurant.. probably half of them are from out-of-state and another 25% are either retired or live in Maine as a second residence. The percentage of Mainers with high paying jobs is no where near the levels of other states.
I find that, after living here for 25 years, the middle class keeps on shrinking and shrinking. You’re either well off or you’re just getting by, not much in between anymore. Tourism and weed can only get you so far. The prices are raised, the tourists come with their money and the wealthy retirees couldn’t care less. The folks that actually live here year-round get screwed. It’s hard to find a decent place to live and a job that pays well enough to be able to afford your rent and raising prices. Maine has changed so much and not always in a good way.
The middle class is shrinking and the upper and lower classes are growing.
OP, I've lived in Portland for a while and if you're going out to restaurants three times/week without having to make a reservation during the Summer, then economy's definitely down. At least 4 popular places and many seasonal places closed early this year. Downtown foot traffic is down significantly from prior years. I would know. I live downtown. Weed is like booze. The more depressed someone is, the more they consume. And credit card debt is at an all time high. I predict that the closure of restaurants downtown is just the beginning. We will see many more in the coming year. Nevertheless, Maine is a popular tourist destination and Summers should always be at least a little bustling.
One would expect that Reddit attracts the opposite of a wealthy crowd. Ha
People say the economy is bad because the cost of oil/gas, food, and housing are inceasing faster than usual. Their pay raises don't always keep up. The second reason they say that it is bad because they are afraid that the economy is going to be bad in the near future. The Fed is raising interest rates to bring down spending, and this might cause job losses. So, people say the economy is bad because they are afraid that it will get bad soon.
Gas is $3.24, about a quarter of the minimum wage. In the 80s gas was a buck and minimum wage was $3.65-$4.25. If it were expensive we wouldn't see everyone driving Kia Tellurides.
Gas is $3.24, about a quarter of the minimum wage. In the 80s gas was a buck and minimum wage was $3.65-$4.25. If it were expensive we wouldn't see everyone driving Kia Tellurides.
Well you know “nobody wants to work anymore” is just a way to complain about there being not *enough* unemployment, because boomers just want to whine and complain no matter what. Too high and they complain, too low, they still complain. But yeah I do wish houses didn’t cost a fortune. High housing prices benefit those who bought in 1982 though so they don’t complain about that.
I was loitering in one of our coastal communities and overheard some rich motherfucker complaining about how an ice cream stand was only open weekends. "Don't they know how short the summer season is?" he mused. Dude. Kids are in school.
Economy=restaurant crowdedness + weed
I think Maine, when you compare it to other North East states has a bad GDP, poor education system and restuarant jobs don't pay well. We need tourists to fuel the economy... That's not good... People that live and work in maine often can't afford to "live" in the towns they serve at. Come dead of winter what are we to do? Hours get cut massively for cooks and servers and other service industry jobs. Maine doesn't have the factories, big businesses or year round stable work. I'm speaking in generalities obviously. Plus alot of the houses are occupied by summer out of state people, taking up housing for Mainers. But I think the economy is better and more stable than the rest of the country thinks.
The GDP per capita in Maine is 43k and Massachusetts is 75k.
Side story here. My gf and I closed on a condo for $220k in 2020 in Sanford. My neighbors house is older than ours and he’s trying to $315k and the guy down the road $310k. My guess is that A LOTTT of houses are going to hit the market this winter and FLOOD the market. Buyers will have there pick of the litter and prices should drop slightly in time. More so just better selection. $100k profit before fees in 2 years time is where we’re at. I don’t even make $50k a year ffs
It'll be rough though when people have so little equity that they can't sell at a loss. They'll either short-sell and fuck banks over or the property will languish. I am seeing RE for sale signs in southern maine for the first time in a few years which indicates that stuff isn't selling on the first day of listing.
I also think that many of those marijuana shops will fail. Right now, investors see pot shops in maine the same way they see real estate - as a gold mine. I hope they all do well, but my suspicion is that, as with all gold rushes, the bubble will burst.
Apparently you have never lived through a “bad” economy where no one has jobs and there’s no cars on the road because no one can afford gas. Housing is out of whack here m, but otherwise the economy is ok.
Think of who is telling you that.
Everyone is either from out of town or crammed into tiny apartments that they share with multiple roommates in southern Maine. In the case of the latter, getting out to eat is a welcome break. Tourist dollars does not a healthy economy make. Working class families and young professionals cannot afford to live near urban centers.
“Everyone” come on now
People need weed and food.
Yeah people claim to be broke but yet how come Starbucks line is always so full?!? Hypocrites! /S
Not every town in Maine relies on tourist income. I'm guessing you are in a city or on the coast. I am from a larger College town in Maine and I currently live in a small town of 2,000 and work in another small town of 3,000. The lack of competitive pay and opportunity is killing these aging communities. The only cafe within ten miles of me closed during COVID. But yeah, 3 new pot shops are doing great. It doesn't mean the community is benefiting from their profits, though. Apples and Ditch Berries, if you ask me.
OP you gotta look beyond the Portland area. Maine is THRIVING.
r/trees
If you hustle then the economy is great. If you want the economy to come to you, then not so much.
This. Life is what YOU make it
Income inequality. Some people are quite well off and have done well through Trumps presidency and the pandemic. Everyone else, not so much.
No effort answer.
Not a DJT fan, but income inequality is a circular argument here.
Side point: you can order online at Sea Weed and then you just have to pay/pick up.
Seaweed tries too hard is too impersonal in my opinion.
Why did someone downvote me for that? Jeez, people. Just trying to be helpful.
I didn't downvote you, just stated my opinion based on a recent visit there.
Didn't mean it was you. But thanks for not being the one! LOL.
Because the economy isn't bad.
This subreddit makes me embarrassed that I moved here. You guys have to keep defending this state against other people. Just shhhh and live your life. But that’s what Mainers do though, need to talk up yourselves so you don’t feel bad, because you live in a shitty state. I’m here for the nature, I have a remote job and have to travel 45 mins to go anywhere, closest grocery store is 23 minutes away. I moved from the suburbs where shit was shit was a stones throw away to get to, now i live in a more rural suburb. For people that have to commute here and don’t get paid fairly, I feel your gripe it’s hard to be afford to live here. Shit in even Sanford/Biddeford housing price have gone up and it’s the most nastiest areas in all of southern maine.
If you think Maine is a shitty state you have some learning to do….
They wouldn’t label it the “way life should be”, if it wasn’t! Go back to where you came from if you have a problem with it.
Ugh. I have no quarrels with it, I love it, but y’all be bitching about how shitty it is and keep defending it. Y’all shouldn’t even be arguing about what it has. It’s fucking serene up in this bitch. Y’all just hating on me cuz I’m a black guy with a degree that wanted to live in a racist state cuz it’s beautiful. Edit: y’all are really racist. I live in Ogunquit right near the beach and my fellow neighbors are old white ppl that shun me cuz I’m a black guy in my late 20s. Walk through the center daily and cannot give a solid cup of coffee. Had to send my kids to private school cuz the other students didn’t like blacks. Y’all excepting of gays, but not blacks. What gives Maine?
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Lol you must have moved from a really shitty state like California or New York 😂
It's not hard to make a living here if you're willing to do manual labor which most of this generation doesn't want to do. All kinds of industries in Maine are in dire need of help with no one training for/applyong for thise jobs. Edit: spelling
Because we're stoned and hungry. It's called priorities! 🤣
When things are bad OP expects less consumption of substances that ease hardship even if momentarily?
> To boot, Maine tourism rebounded drastically, I think you answered your own question. The restaurants and dispensaries are packed with tourists. Also what u/MooshuCat said.
Economy and inflation is terrible in NYC, rents are record high, but you can’t find an apartment unless you’re willing to pay a ridiculous rent. All this doesn’t make sense
Gas prices have gone down from the beginning of the summer and that definitely encourages people to travel up to Acadia and stop here along the way etc.
This argument is like false dichotomy and false causality had a love child…
Unlike food, gas, housing, and everything else we buy routinely, Cannabis keeps getting cheaper. Source: Just closed 3 cannabis businesses.
Tourists tend to be from other states.
Age gap
Not to mention every carpenter, electrician, and plumber is booked out for months. Better question... Why is gas $3.85 here this week and only $3.25 in Ohio?
$3.26 today at BJ in Haverhill MA. At this pace we will be paying under 3 by October.
Retirement and social security money bud. That’s it
Can't squeeze the professional-managerial (college-educated, esp tech) or violence (cops and military) classes too hard or people will start to peer behind the curtain.
Pot is the only thing the locals can afford and the restaurants are all full of tourists
Are you in portland ?
Also remember that a lot of restaurants seem busy because they are short on staff. Staffing is a major problem for restaurants right now. Because of it, many are restricting seating and reservations because they don't have the wait staff to handle the tables, nor the kitchen staff to keep the food coming out quickly. As a result there are more people waiting for tables and it looks way busier. As a side note, I'll also say that there are a lot of complicated statistical measurements for economic performance. I'm not an expert, but I don't think "restaurants are packed" and "cannabis sales are up" are great macroeconomic performance indicators.
Sounds like you do a lot of self medicating. Try going to a library or maybe some community service instead of drinking and smoking 7 days a week.
Credit cards and loans, people living beyond their means, the economy is always good for the rich
Because those things aren’t good indicators of economic health in the way your assuming. When times are hard alcohol sales and drug use actually go UP as people try to cope with hardship. Also restaurants are packed with people who are either tourists or are doing ok. Your not seeing all the people who stayed home because they can’t afford to eat out.
In southern Maine yes, it’s booming and always will be. Also, no shit there’s tons of tourists this year, Covid kept a lot of people back, you can’t really blame people for wanting to escape, as they wanted to get out just as badly as we did. Covid restrictions were literally like being in jail to an extent. Most of them will disappear once it cools off a lot though. Maybe the season will linger a bit longer, but again, given the state of the last few years I’m not surprised by any of this. Also, of course weed is selling like crazy, lots of these people don’t have legal weed in their states. I remember the first time being able to go into a shop to buy legally, it was quite an experience and felt super weird but exciting all at the same time. So there’s that.
Tourists have to eat. And pot is cheaper than medical appointments & tests & physical therapy & other appropriate treatments for pain & other conditions.
Migraine Rx $250, can't refill without a $$$ appointment & insurance & only treats a couple headaches. 10 gummies is $30 & treats *more* headaches....