During periods of economic hardship, conventional wisdom suggets that some people tend to increase their level of certain behaviors, for example, they may "cling to guns or religion," or perhaps turn to alcohol or gambling in an attempt to relieve any pressures they may be feeling about a "rough patch."
Additionally, the skyrocketing costs of food, health care and gas, not to mention the real estate downturn, suggest that, in general, many consumers will become more careful about how they spend their hard-earned dollars.
The 10 markets below are an attempt to capture these behaviors into the "Web of Misery" - a new set of online indicators of economic distress. Give it your best shot and forecast just how bad you think it's going to get in the next few months!
The outcome of these 10 markets will be determined early in the third quarter of 2008 using Nielsen Online's NetView audience measurement service.
