It means you'll pay more for fuel, interest rates will rise, the job market will become tighter, there will be less employment opportunities and the general costs of living will increase.

Why is it happening? That's a long complicated issue and is best summed up with a couple of phrases: 1) GW's war on terror which is pushing oil prices up big time 2) High levels of credit, and massive debts overseas. 3) Fiscal policy of the USA since the mid 70s has all been debt driven rather than asset rich. 4) A speculative rather than innovation based economy. 5) Lots of other reasons.

Get used to it, this recession for the USA may well be like the one that's been hitting in Japan since the late 80s, just a low level recession, but I'm betting it will be a sharp fall then a plateau and then a series of fall and plateaus until the once mighty USA becomes the worlds latest Angola or fall of the Roman empire if you like.

Waits for the thumbs down from those who don't read or study global events as well as those who want to blame everyone but themselves.