Posted by: Kerry "V i p e r" Rosenberry on August 11, 2003 at 16:12:46

...for a few months now. It seems it's the same reason that EVERY OTHER producer, in the same area, and even at the same field, has gotten less-than-expected turnouts...the local economy is screwed at the moment, and the unemployment rate has been steadily increasing since 2000. The Houston area is above the national average unemployment rate at the moment. In 2000 we had about 1000 at our annual Texas Revolution event in April. Since then the bottom has fallen out of the Houston job market, and the related economy. The virtually steady increase in the unemployment rate has been seen in everything we do here. (From http://www.economagic.com/em-cgi/data.exe/blsla/lausm33600003+2) Houston Unemployment rate by month 2000 01-4.7 2000 02-4.4 2000 03-4.2 2000 04-4.0 2000 05-4.1 2000 06-5.0 2000 07-4.5 2000 08-4.3 2000 09-4.2 2000 10-3.6 2000 11-3.6 2000 12-3.1 2001 01-3.7 2001 02-3.5 2001 03-3.5 2001 04-3.6 2001 05-3.9 2001 06-5.1 2001 07-4.8 2001 08-4.6 2001 09-4.6 2001 10-4.4 2001 11-4.6 2001 12-4.7 2002 01-5.6 2002 02-5.4 2002 03-5.3 2002 04-5.4 2002 05-5.7 2002 06-6.8 2002 07-6.4 2002 08-6.2 2002 09-6.1 2002 11-5.9 2002 12-5.6 2003 01-6.5 2003 02-6.4 2003 03-6.4 2003 04-6.3 2003 05-6.7 2003 06-7.6 Although Houston has consistently stayed below the state average unemployment rate, Texas as a whole has consistently had a higher than average unemployment rate when compared to the national figures. http://www.houston.org/blackfenders/unemploydata.htm The current U.S. average unemployment rate is 5.8 percent, while the national average is 5.9, and Texas as a whole has a whopping 6.4. In contrast, let's look at the other major annual scenario event, Florida's "Grande Finale." It seems to be far less effected. Why? Because their statewide unemployment rate is only 5.3, far below Texas. So, in summary, Houston (and Texas as a whole) has a staggering number of unemployed people right now. With the Texas unemployment rate increasing from 4.2 in 2000 to the current 6.4, people are worried. Overall there has been an almost unwavering increase in the unemployment rate. The last time we had a national 3% unemployment rate was May of 2000. It is now more than double that. So it's simple really. More people have no jobs. They haven't the money to spend on paintball. The ones that HAVE jobs are worried, so they don't want to spend that much on paintball. The fact that everyone has seen a recent decline not only in scenario attendance, but in regular weekend ball and tourneys.

Follow Ups: What are the stats for OK? epic 16:37:33 08/12/03 (5) Re: Decline in player turnouts Andy "ADorsai" VanDerPlaats 17:30:20 08/15/03 (1) The solution for Generals and Senior Officers is Dale "Head_Hunters" DuPont 17:59:14 08/15/03 (0) Are Oklahomans richer? Kerry "V i p e r" Rosenberry 17:54:54 08/12/03 (2) Damn Lies and Statistics The Sun God 18:39:53 08/14/03 (1) Re: Damn Lies and Statistics Kerry "V i p e r" Rosenberry 20:52:50 08/14/03 (0) ...and it snowballs Hipkiss - Twilight Zone 11:13:08 08/12/03 (0) Interesting... James "FlashTX" Peterson 17:51:59 08/11/03 (2) My opinions are mine alone of course James "FlashTX" Peterson 12:57:31 08/13/03 (0) A very interesting note indeed..... Lawrence. ".T.B." Wright 23:40:31 08/11/03 (0) Post a Followup Show your name as: DefaultRealnameBothNickname E-Mail address (eg: joeschmoe@aol.com): Show your e-mail address? DefaultYesNo Your Password: Don't have a password? CLICK HERE - Forgot your password? CLICK HERE Subject: Subject:Message: : ...for a few months now. : It seems it's the same reason that EVERY OTHER producer, in the same area, and even at the same field, has gotten less-than-expected turnouts...the local economy is screwed at the moment, and the unemployment rate has been steadily increasing since 2000. The Houston area is above the national average unemployment rate at the moment. : In 2000 we had about 1000 at our annual Texas Revolution event in April. Since then the bottom has fallen out of the Houston job market, and the related economy. The virtually steady increase in the unemployment rate has been seen in everything we do here. : (From http://www.economagic.com/em-cgi/data.exe/blsla/lausm33600003+2) : Houston Unemployment rate by month : 2000 01-4.7 : 2000 02-4.4 : 2000 03-4.2 : 2000 04-4.0 : 2000 05-4.1 : 2000 06-5.0 : 2000 07-4.5 : 2000 08-4.3 : 2000 09-4.2 : 2000 10-3.6 : 2000 11-3.6 : 2000 12-3.1 : 2001 01-3.7 : 2001 02-3.5 : 2001 03-3.5 : 2001 04-3.6 : 2001 05-3.9 : 2001 06-5.1 : 2001 07-4.8 : 2001 08-4.6 : 2001 09-4.6 : 2001 10-4.4 : 2001 11-4.6 : 2001 12-4.7 : 2002 01-5.6 : 2002 02-5.4 : 2002 03-5.3 : 2002 04-5.4 : 2002 05-5.7 : 2002 06-6.8 : 2002 07-6.4 : 2002 08-6.2 : 2002 09-6.1 : 2002 11-5.9 : 2002 12-5.6 : 2003 01-6.5 : 2003 02-6.4 : 2003 03-6.4 : 2003 04-6.3 : 2003 05-6.7 : 2003 06-7.6 : Although Houston has consistently stayed below the state average unemployment rate, Texas as a whole has consistently had a higher than average unemployment rate when compared to the national figures. : http://www.houston.org/blackfenders/unemploydata.htm : The current U.S. average unemployment rate is 5.8 percent, while the national average is 5.9, and Texas as a whole has a whopping 6.4. : In contrast, let's look at the other major annual scenario event, Florida's "Grande Finale." It seems to be far less effected. Why? Because their statewide unemployment rate is only 5.3, far below Texas. : So, in summary, Houston (and Texas as a whole) has a staggering number of unemployed people right now. With the Texas unemployment rate increasing from 4.2 in 2000 to the current 6.4, people are worried. Overall there has been an almost unwavering increase in the unemployment rate. The last time we had a national 3% unemployment rate was May of 2000. It is now more than double that. : So it's simple really. More people have no jobs. They haven't the money to spend on paintball. The ones that HAVE jobs are worried, so they don't want to spend that much on paintball. : The fact that everyone has seen a recent decline not only in scenario attendance, but in regular weekend ball and tourneys. [ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ WARPIG Rec Talk ]