Things here in SW Mo. seem to be fairly steady. Gas prices fluctuating, but that's pretty normal these days it seems and I think it has more to do with the speculators than anything else.
The new car business appears to be fairly robust as we have a number of Calif. retirees moving in the area as well as a lot of other professional types.
The housing market I don't believe is in too much of a decline although the developers in this area seem hell bent on making Springfield the Mo. capital of 3 and 4 story apartment buildings.
All in all I can't really complain.