Cuts on course; RecordView.

THE recession is biting deeper.

We've grown used to the monthly misery of rising unemployment figures and yesterday was no different.

The jobless total in Scotland is now close to 200,000, a shocking 67,000 more than the same time last year.

Around the UK, 2.5million people are out of work and the figure is expected to top three million before the economy bounces back.

But stark statistics are not the only indicator of tough times.

A survey has found most of us are carefully counting the pennies when we go shopping.

Half of all shoppers admitted hunting down more special offers than they used to.

A third have switched to cheaper ranges and supermarket own-brand products and a fifth are opting for discount stores.

Uncertainty about the economy is making everyone tighten their belts, even those in work. Even the well-off.

It's affecting places like posh Loch Lomond Golf Club, where a third of the staff are being laid off. Like other businesses, the club need to cut costs and bring in extra revenue.

A year on from the banking collapse, it's clear we are still deep in recession.

Any green shoots of recovery out there are fragile and no one doubts there is plenty of pain still to come.