You may think the economy is bad right now. But you may also think it’s worse than it really is. To decide how bad is bad—or even, not so bad—let’s explore our surroundings to find evidence one way or the other.

We’re collecting photos from readers that depict the closest signs of economic struggle or recovery in your vicinity. Maybe it’s somewhere in your home, maybe it’s on your commute, maybe it’s something you see during lunch.

Send your photo, along with a description of what it shows and whether it’s a sign of recession or recovery, to [email protected]. Please also include where you took it and how far it is from your home.