according to an article in 2002, "the stock market plunge is weighing heavily on both businesses and consumers." why would a decline in stock prices "weigh heavily" on businesses and consumers? what were the consequences of this for the economy?

Just the same after a long bear market or a long wave of depression, business people become pessimistic and under-estimate the public requirements or consumption. This causes prices to rise because production has fallen below consumption. Competition always gets keener near the top when more is being produced that can be sold, and the result is a decline in prices whether it be commodities or manufactured articles. The stock market discounts these changes in advance.

Stocks slumbed Friday on data revealing the first monthly employment decline in four years..heightening in vestors’ fears that the credit crunch has developed into a broader economic downturn. however, the market is clearly worried that the wall strrt [ credit crunch] spread to Main Street. "The bullish case was that overseas strength would create demand for U.S. products, jobs would stay strong and the housing problem contained." but on August’s, the payroll drop was below WAll Street expectations of a 112,000-job increase, even after many investors steeled themselves for a below- forcast hiring number following a tepid report earlier this week on private-sector employment by Auto Data Processing and Macroeconomic Advisers.
What do you guys think about this, and how would you summarize this Article in your own words, by analyzing and discusing it with personnal opinions and do you agree or disagree and whats the format for this as in like writing a NEWS BRIEF!!!! MKTG

Illegal-immigrant populace in Ariz. falls by a third, study says

The number of illegal immigrants living in Arizona has plunged by one-third in the past two years amid a dismal job market and stiffer enforcement of immigration laws, according to researchers who released a new report.

Arizona saw the largest decline of any state, according to researchers at the Center for Immigration Studies, whose report shows that the nation’s undocumented population fell nearly 14 percent from the summer of 2007 to the first quarter of this year, following years of steady growth.

The report comes as the Obama administration is gearing up to push for major immigration reforms, including a possible legalization program for millions of illegal immigrants in the U.S.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/07/30/20090730illegalpopulation0730.html