It's clear that there's a concern about very high gas prices. As gas prices started escalating in June, small-business owners, who are very close to consumers, became concerned about the impact on customers.

A lot of business executives have a hard time getting away from the job and when you own a small business, the returns are very close.

There is less enthusiasm to borrow and we think that is going to translate into lower consumer spending. In fact, 19 percent of Americans now say they are worried about making their monthly payments.

Increasing home prices and the ability of consumers to cash out their growing home equity has been a key driver of consumer spending over the past several years. As the housing market slows and housing prices stabilize, consumers are less likely to draw on their home equity, suggesting consumer spending will also decline.

These results reflect the general state of uncertainty that is prevalent in today's economy. Employees appear to be feeling the effects of the daily business news reports that are of concern to all Americans, from the boardrooms of Wall Street to the halls of Congress and the White House.

It doesn't concern me that they might have check lists to follow. I've seen the ones that have been proposed by the county commissioners, and it seemed to me reasonable that their lawyers would lay that kind of information out for them like that. I see it as a reasonable method to make sure they comply with the law.