How Americans Spend Now

Greg Ruffing / Redux for TIME

The Economy

Thrift Nation

Americans react to the downturn with big changes in attitudes and spending habits, but they're not giving up hope

Essay

The Great Recession: America Becomes Thrift Nation

The economic downturn is transforming how we spend, whom we trust, where we save and what we really value

GRAPHIC

American Thrift: A TIME Poll

As the downturn digs in, TIME asked 1,000 Americans how they're feeling, where they're scrimping and what they see in the road ahead. From clipping coupons to raiding our 401(k)s, we're making big changes but still holding on to hope.

Photos

Stores That Are No More

Photographer Brian Ulrich's images explore the haunted shells of America's devastated retail landscape

Photos

The Recession of 1958

After 13 years of post-war growth, the U.S. economy hit its first economic downturn since the Depression

Related: The Stock Market Crash of 1929

Special Report

25 People to Blame for the Financial Crisis

The good intentions, bad managers and greed behind the meltdown

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