This journal issue reports the results of a survey of Anchorage residents' own assessments of how they were doing economically in October 1988. A total of 407 randomly selected households were called and asked about finances, employment, plans to move, interest in buying homes, housing costs, and other economic indicators. Results were compared with those from similar surveys done in June and November 1987. The survey results are placed in the context of the 1980s economic boom and the recession produced by the worldwide oil boom and bust. Respondents reported less unemployment, more households with higher incomes, fewer households with deteriorating finances, and more households willing to spend money on vacations and other nonessentials. However, although the earnings of many Anchorage residents have increased, job benefits and hours worked have not, and many respondents reported improved finances because households with two wage earners increased from 35 to 51%. Lower housing prices reflected the effects of recession but improved the financial situation of many residents now paying reduced rents and mortgages. Owners of residential investment properties and commercial properties were more likely to report worsened financial conditions than other residents. This report contains 10 tables. (DHP)