That may have been so for Woolworths in Canada, going guts up after the US operation collapsed, but in the UK and Australia it had been going reasonably strong until the current financial crisis.  In fact, Woolworths is the largest retailer here in Oz and continues to dominate the retail sector, owning such sidelines as clothing, furniture and electrical stores, liquor and fuel outlets, and etc, etc.  So no, Woolworths here isn't going under any time soon.

As for the comment I made on perishables, I was speaking with the local Woolworths store manager regarding the very issue of dumping perishable food items when they could probably have been sold with a price reduction, and he stated that he would prefer that option but it is NOT Woolworths policy to reduce prices across the board on perishable stock to make it sell.... thus, tons of food is dumped every week while people are having to go without due to inaffordability., which totally stinks when they can make predatory price cuts to put smaller operators nearby out of business.  So it's not like they can't cut prices, but rather that they WON'T.

Food production has dropped in the last 50 years because large corporations (like Woolworths) have priced the small producers out of business with predatory pricing, wholesale and hostile takeovers and refusing to buy their produce if they didn't cow-tow to company policies.  Hence, we have corporate farmers who control pricing, distribution and what is marketed... meaning some items disappear from the shelves and consumers lose variety/choices.

So yeah, there will be wholesale inflation to the average person's grocery bill, but before AND after the recession, because of corporate greed and many more small producers going to the wall during the recession/depression.... and things are gonna get a whole lot uglier before they get ANY better.  And this does not gel well for companies putting out luxury and non-essential goods and services: ie, Stardock... because people will use their shrinking and devalued disposable incomes to feed, clothe and house themselves and families... because trade emissions schemes are driving electricity costs up (mine has risen $90 - $120 per quarter as a result of emmisions trading) and people won't have their PC's on for endless hours at a time, and then it has to be considered if they can afford to buy/run new computers AND customise them.

The media may use the term "recession" to grab headlines, but there is no doubting there is a very real recession going on worldwide right now... and while it may not be affecting 100% of the population (there's a wealthy 5% who will carry on regardless), there is a growing number of people suffering it's effects each day... and the more that suffer it the more that will, because societies are interdependent and rely on one section to support another, which supports another and so on.  Sure, the US would adapt and survive it one of its automakers went down, but this is far, far bigger than that... we're talking several automakers and major businesses going guts up worldwide.... and that is not something any small entity dependent on the viability of others can dismiss as not affecting it/them, because it does and will.

It's one thing to be optimistic and remain positive in difficult times, but another to get too cocky and turn a blind eye to that which can destroy you... the bankers did it, and now look at where we are.

I sincerely hope you're right.  However, it is worrying to read that many people are saying they can't afford to renew their subs due to the financial squeeze.  I myself am not stuggling to put food on the table, but with the current exchange rate dictating that I pay almost double that of last time, I'm finding hard to justify upping my sub at AUD$104 when my electricity costs have risen by around 30% and other priorities may well arise.

No offense to anyone, but I'm not reading this entire topic, NO, nothing is recession proof.. that's a no-brainer

The bankruptcy courts probably are... in fact they'll be thriving quite soon now.

I was referring more to a worst-case scenario.  As in, when facing the reality of going hungry or losing your home, would one buy a skin or renew their subscription or buy food or pay a bill?  Skinning is not a necessity.

I think when most, if not all, of your income comes from the afore-mentioned industry, you almost have to keep a positive outlook.  Not that that's a bad thing at all.  My outlook was not based on pessimism or a negative outlook at all, simply a realistic world-view. 

With that said, keep skinning, by all means!!

starkers, I meant, it's like asking if something is completely bullet-proof...or..something

The security guys are booming.

The entire Bush admin just stole trillons of dollars from you. They are doin pretty well also.

I suspect gaming will fluorish as well due to people looking for more home entertainment.

The cable companies will gouge....hard.

Sure, some things are.. thats why recession proof is a term, NT mentioned a few good ones, I'm hoping skinning will be among them.

I guess i am fortunate, I am a retired law enforcement officer,(retired at age 45, 23 years of service) receive a pension check each month and health insurance for the rest of my life, but I also work now a full time job, with disabled and autistic children(a lot of job satisfaction going on here) but i see friends and family members being laid off their jobs, and struggling to make ends meet, so once again I do have to thank President George Bush for this wonderful predicament we are in. thanks a lot dubya,

Here's to THAT!

Is that the users or the product? 

As a retired person, I have a fixed income but own no one, so I have no problems doing whatever I want as long as I keep it reasonable.

Blame Bush if that makes ya feel good but it started under Clinton.  His cronnies let the Fannies and Freddies start selling to all those underqualified people.  More companies moved to China so the people here had to settle for less paying jobs in a shrinking market.  There are many reasons for the shape of the economy and congress controls most of what goes on and whatever president gets the blame or the praise. 

Its real hard to shop for non food items and find something not made in China.  Try it.  A few cloths items are from S. America.  Oh well.......

jmurph1...I'm really glad if you're not hurting....and I pray for my fellow Americans who are struggling (and truly believe things will get better) but (not wanting to have this degenerate into a political squabble...especially today) this is not one person's fault. It is OUR fault. We elect the gov't. We bought w/o saving and We (The People) have to pull together, accept our part of the responsibility for this and work our way out of it.

Devisiveness will defeat us. Being "right" is not important. Being determined to do better will help.