PHOENIX, Arizona (CNN) -- It was supposed to be just another day at work. Job losses suffered by Linda and Chris Metzger have had a ripple effect on other businesses in their community In early March 2008, 31-year-old Linda Metzger went to the New York office where she had worked as an assistant vice president in the marketing department at Lehman Brothers for about a year. Only 15 minutes into her work day, Metzger was called into her manager's office, where a representative from human resources was waiting. "They told me that the company was having economic difficulties and that they had to make budget cuts," Metzger said. "They were afraid that they were going to have to let me go and that it was not due to performance."
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Phoenix, Arizona, couple lost three jobs in one year
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Restaurants, stores where they spent money are closing
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Economist says when a job is lost, demand falls for many businesses
Within a few weeks, they both found jobs near Phoenix, Arizona, earning close to what they were making in @placeholder.