"We're On Hold Right Now"

My how things can change...90 days ago one could get retail chains to have a serious look at our area for possible development or planting here. Let the bank and financial crisis sneak up on us and click...it's like someone just flipped a switch. After communicating with several potentials, they are all in a "hold" mode waiting to see if the markets will rebound. Of course if all have that attitude, the market will likely not rebound, but will make a snails pace recovery. The governments involvement and throwing some money at banks and other institutions seems to have staved a "run" of our financial systems and instead has turned it into a "slow bleed". Until we reach the point that confidence is restored and people and businesses begin to invest again, we should get use to hearing "we're on hold right now."