I can only go by the wide geographic comments by other surveyors posted on POB. Many lost jobs in the past 18 months and some have found new employment in other areas. Some have reported a slight increase of work but rarely long backlogs of jobs in the wings. Others have reported just enough to keep their doors open. Of late, there have been a few promising posts but overall I say the corner for Surveying has not yet been turned. Some markets are getting better but the housing slump will last at least another 18 months for most areas. The builders just overproduced for the market but they have now dropped production so this should right itself but just not fast enough for some. Haliburton in Duncan Oklahoma just announced another fairly large layoff and they are the largest company in Duncan. Lots of shops closing up on main street as people do not have the cash, or are worried, and they are not going out to shop or eat as much. Goodyear in our town has had some longer than normal shutdowns but has not had any layoffs yet. The BRAC is what is keeping Lawton thriving at this moment. Some 20,000 new soldiers so lots of housing starts and other small business startups. This will not last forever but I see us as prosperous for at least another three years. We are however losing our Chevy dealership and both Chrysler dealerships. That will likely mean several hundred in the workforce looking for employment very shortly. I guess I see some recovery nationwide but I think people are very worried now about fiscal responsibility and perhaps many that had grown up living on the credit card have realized just how unsustainable that lifestyle is longterm. I'm really surprised that we have not seen more modest homes being built. A family of four does not really need 5,000 square feet.