Photo by Todd Weddle / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo

Shoppers travel back and forth between parking lots and stores in St. Joseph Friday morning.

The economy has local residents seeing red, and they see little hope from a $700 billion government Band-Aid.

“They should have done something a long time ago,” said Charmayne Conard.

The St. Joseph woman said that the urgent plea by President George W. Bush may be too little, too late.

“A recession. Last time it was the banks and this time it’s the gas companies,” Ms. Conard said.

The word recession is scary for some. From increasing gas and food prices to unpredictable stocks and housing markets, the average citizen is in a pinch.

College student Tyler Rhoad thinks the proposed bailout will bring the economy down even further.

“I don’t think there is a good way to do it,” he said.

The Bush administration and Congress have been in tense negotiations on a proposed financial bailout following one of the largest collapses in banking history. While President Bush has pushed for a speedy decision, Congress is expected to continue to debate the package through the weekend.

The cost of fuel, while on a decreasing trend at many stations in St. Joseph, is a sore spot for many.

“It takes away income for doing other things,” said Vaughn Rupe, a father of three. “Food prices don’t bother me as much as gas, but they go hand in hand.”

Ms. Conard said she notices the changes everywhere. Trips to the veterinarian, the doctor, the grocery store, the department stores, she said, are all going up. It was the beginning of the summer that Melanie Bronson said she started noticing a change in food prices.

“My husband would probably say the stocks, but food (costs) affects us the most,” she said. “I think we’re all in the same boat.”

Donald Alford hears a lot of complaints during his days working at the grocery store. He believes both gas and food prices affect his wallet.

“I just stay home now,” he said. “And I don’t drive as much.”

Fewer trips to local restaurants is becoming as common a trend as clipping coupons and taking the bus, a habit Brad Jordan fears.

“It’s gone from bad to worse,” he said. Mr. Jordan, who works in the food service industry, said that tipping is where he notices the biggest hit. “When they’re coming out to eat they might be using their last $2 for the tip.”

Tracy Ebling said she’s worried about it all. Her mother is worried about retirement and her husband is self-employed. She said that her husband may have to start including gas mileage as a part of his bids for work.

“Most of us feel the bad economy already,” she said about the proposed bailout. “It’s painful.”

Jennifer Hall can be reached at jennhall@npgco.com.