While I hope things get better overall, and I am glad some people are thriving, I am very pessimistic about the US economy in general, and the electrical industry in particular. I have just begun to contract on my own, as no one is hiring electricians in my area. Everyone I know has lost their job, including myself, so I decided to create my own, and if I succeed, I intend to help someone else by offering employment. The problem as I see it is that so much of our manufacturing has been outsourced, that when consumers spend, most of the money goes overseas. Just my opinion that things may be gloomy for a long time. I hope I am wrong.