Shoeshines

Why it's important: A daily ritual for many business people, idle shoeshine stands can mean people are tightening their wallets—or fewer people are working.

Outlook: Business is down 25% to 30% since August at Eddie's Shoe Repair in Grand Central Terminal, says general manager Nelson Villanova. He says some customers are out of work, and "they don't know if they lost their jobs for a long time." Men are cutting back on their $4 shines, he says, as daily customers cut back to three shines a week, and those who used to come three times a week now come just once. And those who used to get their shoes shined once a week, he says, are probably shining their shoes themselves.