We have had warnings of harder times to come from
the latest business and consumer confidence data. Then there was the bad
employment numbers for September.

I now report three disparate bits of information of
the sort I once would have said added up to a distinct change of
direction:

  • My banker said: “Things suddenly went quiet in October.”
  • A friend in the radio business said: “Advertising has taken a
    dive.”
  • Another friend said a friend of his is worrying
    about a big drop in new car sales.

Henry appeals to readers to tell us what is really
happening out there.