By Amy Sienicki
 
March 5, 2009
 
ASHLAND, Ore. - Oregon State Economist Tom Potiowsky spoke about the U.S. recession at the Ashland Rotary's weekly meeting Thursday.
 
While industries across the board are struggling, he says the wood products industry is in the worst shape. He says the state's health care industry is doing marginally well.
 
"We hope we're at the bottom. We think the quarter we just went through and the quarter we're in right now will be the worst of this recession," says Potiowsky.
 
Potiowsky says he's hoping financial markets will settle down and that lending will start to increase soon. He says the economy will likely go down over the next two quarters of 2009, but not as rapidly as it is doing now.