THE TRI CITIES AND WELL AS THE UNITED STATES ARE ENDURING WHAT SOME ECONOMISTS DESCRIBED AS THE “GREAT RECESSION” DURING THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR. IN FACT, IT’S THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DOWNTURN IN BUSINESS SINCE THE 1930’S. ACCORDING TO THE TRI CITIES RETAIL REPORT COMPILED BY THE EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, DOLLARS SALES DURING THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2009 FELL 3.9 PERCENT IN BRISTOL, 5.6 PERCENT IN JOHNSON CITY, AND 9.9 PERCENT IN KINGSPORT. ETSU ECONOMICS PROFESSOR DR. STEP HIPPLE EXPECTS AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY TO BEGIN DURING THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS OF 2009.