> Thanks everyone for your incite. Doesn't hurt any less at the end of every 
> month, but at least I know that this isn't a recessionary problem...but a 
> case of inflationary spending cutbacks by a lot of people.

Read this on the Rope:

SoundScan data released for the week ending July 23 shows fewer than 
9 million unit sales this week, the first time weekly sales have slipped 
below 9 million units since 1996. 

Billboard's Top 200 echoes the same weak numbers, with all but one track 
failing to break 70,000 copies during the week. 

Album sales, including those sold via digital download, amounted to 8.91 
million copies for the week ended July 23. 

With digital download numbers rolled into the tally, it's hard to make the case
that cannibalization is causing the slump. Whatever the reason for the decline 
(cough*long tail*cough), soft numbers in the middle of a hot summer may 
make some record execs very nervous. 

(from the digital music weblog)