SILOAM SPRINGS — Alot has changed since the last time I wrote a column. The weather has cooled, the days have shortened, andpumpkins and other harbingers of Halloween (or simply Autumn, depending on your point of view) have sprung up around Northwest Arkansas.

The Cubs followed through on a lackluster season by missing the playoffs, and the Texas Rangers’ best season in years segued, disappointingly, into another long winter.

The Razorbacks? As they always do this time of year, the Hogs began playing football/tormenting their fanbase. That Auburn win, however, seemed to improve the prevailing mood.

Actually, that’s not the half of all that’s happened. Tickets for the Arkansas Lottery went on sale. The Russians shot a circus clown into space. President Obama left Denmark chagrined after his bid for a Chicago Olympics fell flat - then shortly thereafter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Astronomers discovered a new ring around Saturn.

And the recession ended.

That’s right - there was the Associated Press headline Monday morning, big as life: “Survey: Most economists see recovery beginning.”

My first thought was that it’s been a heck of a long time since I’ve written a column, too long. But not that long - did I somehow muddle through a sudden economic turnaround?

No. Beyond the headline, the AP story, based on a survey by the National Association for Business Economics, offers a sober assessment of where the country is and where it’s likely headed. In short, while there may be an upward trend ahead, it’s shaping up to be long, hard climb.

Lynn Reaser, president-elect of the NABE, told the AP, “The survey found that the vast majority of business economists believe that the recession has ended but that the economic recovery is likely to be more moderate than those typically experienced following steep declines.”

The story continued: “The forecasters upgraded the economic outlook for the next several quarters, but cautioned that unemployment rates and the federal deficit are expected to remain high through the next year …

“ … the federal deficit has ballooned and the jobless rate is expected to lag behind, as employers remain cautious.”

Any good news is welcome these days, and a slow recovery beats no recovery. Still, it’s hard not to imagine how a report like this reads to the millions who’ve fallen victim to this economy. The promise of recovery - and a gradual one, at that - must seem awfully late in coming.

What does all it mean for Siloam Springs?

I was on the phone with someone who works along the I-540 corridor the other day, talking about something other than the economy. He told me, “Y’all have your own little world over there.”

It can sometimes feel that way, economically and otherwise - and for the most part, that’s a good thing, especially when so much of the world seems in bad shape. But while our economy has been more resilientthan most, many local businesses have felt the recession’s bite - are still feeling it, in fact.

I didn’t start out planning to write a “shop local” piece, but it occurs to me: Another thing that’s changed since the last time I wrote a column?

The beginning of the holiday shopping season, while it hasn’t arrived, has come into view. Downtown merchantsare already planning their annual Holiday Open House (Nov. 15). So shop local - that can never be said too early or too many times.

And not just for Christmas gifts, but for everything, as often as possible. It helps.

And remember that whilethe recession is reportedly over, we still have to make it through the recovery, however long that takes. It’ll be easier if we pull together.

- John Dilmore is publisher of the Herald-Leader. He can be reached via e-mail at johnd@nwanews.com.

Opinion, Pages 3 on 10/14/2009

Comments

To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers.

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.