The economy's in a funk. The media is full of one bad story after another.
Stocks continue their downward spiral.
Layoffs are becoming a part of the weekly news. The Fed seems unable to stem the tide and the politicians are wrangling with each other over solutions. During this cooling off period from what has been one of the wildest up cycles in our history, various industries are taking a hit to earnings and looking for ways to stay the course and sustain any semblance of profitability. In the chemical industry, the news is not much more encouraging. Feedstock costs are expected to increase 3 to 4 percent in 2001.