Headline: UO index finds recession-like conditions

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/12/01/daily30.html

Wow, what a discovery!!

Using the University of Oregon's Index of Economic Indicators as a guide to the future of business in Oregon is like trying to use Google Earth in forecasting the weather.

A better gauge that isn't subject to bureaucrats massage would be counting the vacant parking spaces at shopping malls and/or noting the reduction of cigarette butts scattered around city bus stops.

Then if you wanted to learn about those in the upper income brackets, the data on Charmin sales as compared to Kirkland tissue would be a good tell.