Calamity

Sitting in the classroom today this popped into my head: For all the financial troubles in the past month, has anything changed for the average Joe? Try as I might, I couldn't think of any concrete, day to day effects as a result of all this trouble. The argument is this: The masses don't feel the pain for another few months when the job market slows down, no one can find a job, prices continue to go up, and investments stagnate (or, worse, go down). But, for now, is anyone out there feeling this?