Below is Sageworks list of the 7 industries that took longest to collect payment for their services/products over the last 12 months (upwards of 48 days). You will see that 6 of the 7 industries are related to construction and real estate; perhaps to offset sluggish sales, the average company in these industries is allowing customers to pay more leniently. All of the industries saw their accounts receivable days increase from 2007.

Sageworks just released the following data which shows sales per employee at new car dealerships has decreased by over $150,000 in 2008. Profit per employee decreased to only $349 from $4,173 - these statistics are further evidence of how the crisis with the Big 3 is affecting Main Street.