Pittsburgh's economy is hot!!!!! (health insurance, condo, buy)

[Humanoid]

Just to note the Universities aren't doing particularly well. CMU is going to freeze pay for at least 2 years it seems and is restricting things like new hires etc. Their money is starting to run dry, but that is pretty much happening to most universities.

Also, some companies are still hiring. Posting about a company hiring is about as telling as posting about a company in the area that is laying off workers.

Regarding the manufacturing. Things have gotten much worse since October. Things are moving so fast that its almost pointless to look at this sort of stuff, its just better to see what happens.
If you haven't noticed most lay offs have been announced over the last 2 months or so....

If Pittsburgh economy doesn't decline significantly in 2009, I'll buy you one of those gross cookies with the face on it from Eat'n park.

[dugdogmaster]

Originally Posted by Humanoid

If Pittsburgh economy doesn't decline significantly in 2009, I'll buy you one of those gross cookies with the face on it from Eat'n park.

Thanks, but no thanks, I'm not a fan of them either. Ship me something from L.A.

[Copanut]

I think the entire US economy is going to tank next year. The saving grace for Pgh is the very low cost of housing.

And the price of beer. 1.40 for a 16 ounce draft at my local tavern.

I'll just get drunk and stay at my cheap home.

[Blackbeauty212]

You hit the nail on the head COPANUT - No is saying Pittsburgh economy isnt going to suffer - Hell Sony is closing its westmoreland plant....

But Pittsburgh is in a better position the alot of other Cities.....Humanoid I dont understand your quest to prove to everyone that Pittsburgh is still an Industrial Dump that is still goes by the Rust Belt Standards.....You couldn't be furhter from the true...The fact that it cost less to do business and to live in Pittsburgh will be an attraction to business --- Hell BofNY has saw the light

[rocafeller05]

Agreed. I think that the cost of living will keep Pittsburgh from sinking like the rest of the US. And its not like jobs dont pay 1/2 decent wages in the Burgh. Take a look at those southern cities that pay $12/hr. and have homes averaging $300,000. I think they will be hit hardest in the next year or 2.
Just my 2 cents.

[Mugatu]

Originally Posted by COPANUT

I think the entire US economy is going to tank next year. The saving grace for Pgh is the very low cost of housing.

And the price of beer. 1.40 for a 16 ounce draft at my local tavern.

I'll just get drunk and stay at my cheap home.

Great post. The cost of living is one of the primary reasons I moved here, and a reason I don't feel too uncomfortable about this recession.

Originally Posted by rocafeller05

Agreed. I think that the cost of living will keep Pittsburgh from sinking like the rest of the US. And its not like jobs dont pay 1/2 decent wages in the Burgh. Take a look at those southern cities that pay $12/hr. and have homes averaging $300,000. I think they will be hit hardest in the next year or 2.
Just my 2 cents.

I came from one of those southern cities, and I'm so glad I'm not there now. FL is going to be a miserable place to be in 2009 when the height of this recession hits. Employers down there were paying terrible wages when times were good, because people were always moving there, and they could always find someone willing to work for those garbage wages so they could live in "paradise.". Now with things getting really tight, the wages will only get worse.

Wages aren't that great in Pgh compared to other cities in the NE, but compared to FL they are, and the cost of living is significantly lower. Glad to be here! And a city who's primary industry is now healthcare, is another plus during this recession. But it won't be a good time for anyone, I just think Pittsburgh may be less miserable than other places.

[ROBYN118]

To the person that said the south will be hit the hardest is right on. We live in Florida and will probably lose our house. My husband works construction and the work is dried up. There are no jobs available down here. The cost of homeowners insurance is equal to the taxes that you pay up there. The good thing about the taxes you pay however is that you get great schools from that money. Our schools are closing down here and cutting everything they can from the education system.

Housing prices are not what they use to be due to the high volume of foreclosures, but I can rent a decent house up there for about $500.00 less a month than I can rent here. I have looked online for jobs in the medical field. I can get paid $16-$18 hr up there and would get paid $12 per hour in Florida.

I am from Pittsburgh, but have lived in Florida most of my life. I will miss somethings about the state, but I think people in Pittsburgh are much friendlier, it is a more family oriented community, and what a nice change seasons will be. I think even if the economy in Pittsburgh goes bad it wont be like Florida, California, and other states that had this huge real estate boom and will take years to recover from the bottom dropping.

I never thought I would be in this situation, but I can tell you I have learned valuable lessons and will be a better person for everything we have gone through.

[Humanoid]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

Humanoid I dont understand your quest to prove to everyone that Pittsburgh is still an Industrial Dump that is still goes by the Rust Belt Standards.....You couldn't be furhter from the true...The fact that it cost less to do business and to live in Pittsburgh will be an attraction to business

I have never said that Pittsburgh is an "Industrial Dump". As far as living costs, Pittsburgh is modest. There are cheaper places, but Pittsburgh gives you a good bang for you buck. From a business perspective Pittsburgh is a pretty expensive place to do business. There is both high city and state taxes, where as in some other states businesses pay little or no city/state taxes.

If you are a large corporation you can try to get tax breaks from the city/state, but without the ability to bribe politicians you're out of luck.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Mugatu

Great post. The cost of living is one of the primary reasons I moved here, and a reason I don't feel too uncomfortable about this recession.

You have a job with the post office, no? That's about as recession-proof as it gets.

I came from one of those southern cities, and I'm so glad I'm not there now. FL is going to be a miserable place to be in 2009 when the height of this recession hits. Employers down there were paying terrible wages when times were good, because people were always moving there, and they could always find someone willing to work for those garbage wages so they could live in "paradise.". Now with things getting really tight, the wages will only get worse.

Wages aren't that great in Pgh compared to other cities in the NE, but compared to FL they are, and the cost of living is significantly lower. Glad to be here! And a city who's primary industry is now healthcare, is another plus during this recession. But it won't be a good time for anyone, I just think Pittsburgh may be less miserable than other places.

I work in heath care, and we were just talking today about how if people lose their jobs, and along with them their health insurance, they are not going to go to the dr. as much. They'll wait until they're much sicker to go. It's not recession proof.

[pman]

Originally Posted by Humanoid

There is both high city and state taxes, where as in some other states businesses pay little or no city/state taxes

the state really needs to work on its business taxes and what may be worse, bureaucracy. I've heard that the cities in PA pay for the courts even when teh state is required to by the state.