HARD TIMES

NANCY BRUMBACK

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (FNS) -- How are supermarket shoppers reacting to the combination of a slowing economy and continuing terrorist threat?

SN recently interviewed shoppers at a Super Stop & Shop in Framingham, a town of just under 65,000 and about 15 miles west of Boston.

The area has been affected by both the economy and the attacks. The region's economy has been hit by the technology slowdown, including layoffs of about 1,300 by EMC Corp., the state's largest technology company with facilities in several nearby towns, and the bankruptcy filing of Polaroid Corp.

In addition to the ongoing concerns about anthrax and other bioterrorism threats, the attacks of Sept. 11 hit home in Framingham. TJX Corp., operator of apparel chains T.J. Maxx and Marshall's, had seven employees on American Airlines Flight 11 that morning.

SN asked shoppers if the slowing economy has affected their grocery shopping patterns, if they have changed how often they eat out, and whether they are making any purchases out of concern over terrorist actions.

Carol Scranton

Framingham, Mass.

Retail sales, four people in household

"I'm trying to use more coupons and save as much as possible buying what's on sale. But you've got to have food. We probably ate out twice a week before, and now I'm guessing we probably eat out once every couple of weeks. We haven't [bought anything because of the threats]."

Lydia Jones

Framingham, Mass.

Retired, one person in household

"I'm not doing anything different. I thought about going over to BJ's to pick up some water today, but then I said 'no.' Just because everybody else is doing it, I'm not going to do it. I'll just wait and get my water when I regularly get it. I'm not eating out. I'm not doing anything different than I was really."

Phyllis Rufo

Framingham, Mass.

Retired, two people in household

"No, except I watch for everything to be on sale. Other than that, we're just going along. We're eating out about the same. I did buy some water, but not a tremendous amount. I don't necessarily buy water at the store, but I bought it for my grandchildren if they needed it."

Craig Sewell

Framingham, Mass.

Garage door salesman, one person in household

"No" changes in shopping patterns, eating out or purchases. "We're no less safe today than we were on Sept. 10. There are other problems in life that are equally unpredictable."

Bing Waldsmith

Sudbury, Mass.

Bookkeeper, five people in household

"No, I haven't changed. We don't eat out much anyway. We raise our own beef and pork and Thanksgiving turkey, so mostly I buy frozen and canned products."

Dave Gayman

Framingham, Mass.

Technical writer, two people in household

"We've not really changed. We've thought about it, but haven't made that next step to doing anything. We're actually eating out more, but that was circumstances -- relatives in town. We're just coming off of the community-supported agriculture season, so a lot of our fresh produce has been very readily available and very local."

Helen Lui

Framingham, Mass.

Homemaker, four people in household

"I haven't changed because of the economy, not at all. We eat out about the same, roughly twice every couple of weeks. McDonald's is different; that's quite often. The water on our street was shut off this morning. I don't know why, so I'm here to buy water. I probably should have done that a while ago since you never know what's going to happen."

Mary McCullagh

Ashland, Mass.

Homemaker and employee of a nonprofit corp., five people in household

"I'm a little more cost-conscious. My husband's wary because he's studied terrorism. The day after [the attacks] I went out and bought some strawberries that weren't on sale, which I usually don't do. I've bought stuff I usually don't buy, such as sweets for the kids. I've thought about [buying water]. We don't usually eat out, but I did take them out the other night."

Dixie Savino

Framingham, Mass.

Homemaker, four people in household

"No, not at all. I'm a coupon shopper and I only buy my meats on sale, but I've always been that way. I continue with that. "I'm married to an accountant, so we're careful. And having a 3-year-old, it's hard going out to eat anyway. We never really did go out much.

"I'm not buying anything different, but I was talking to my girlfriends yesterday, and one's husband works for Poland Springs. They were saying they're buying a lot more bottled water, and it makes me think twice that maybe I should have some extra bottled water around the house. But outside of that, I'm not buying anything different."

Patrice Wooten

Marlborough, Mass.

Nurse, one person in household

"I'm working more and spending less. It's kind of scary. It was a wake-up call for me, to try to save some money. I'm eating out more, grabbing something on the way and cooking less.

"I'm buying a lot of different newspapers, especially the New York newspapers. I'm from New York state, so I've always bought the Post, but I'm buying the Times and magazines to read, too. I'm not buying masks or anything like that."