More unemployment. More foreclosures. More downsizing. More entrepreneurialism. More adults living at home. That’s what economists are predicting in the wake of the loss of a shocking 95,000 jobs in September -- a crash in employment far worse than had been predicted. For the self storage industry, an economic change such as this can be good and bad. All businesses tend to suffer when the economy suffers, but self storage facilities may be asked to step into the breach as families look for places to put some of their belongings as they downsize from a larger home to a smaller, more affordable one, or as they invite family members and friends to move in with them to save money. [More]

More North American young adults (or younger adults) are saving money by living at home, according to census reports. U.S. Census Bureau figures reported over the last few weeks show that the number of adults in the 25- to 35-year-old age range still living at home with their parents has risen since 2008. In Canada, the most recent information is older, but shows an increase in adults ranging in age from 20 to 29 living with their parents. As a result, household sizes in both countries are increasing -- and families in both the U.S. and Canada are turning to self storage, and to professional organizers, to help them handle the resulting increase in clutter. [More]