Who needs cash? Barter can be better than buying

With unemployment up, home values down and other prices rising, consumers aren't so confident. So instead of pulling out their wallets, many are turning to the age-old business of bartering to get what they need or simply want.

"The economy right now really kind of stinks, and it costs more for a lot of things," said Psyck, 36, of St. Paul. "If you can barter something that you have for something you're looking for, it saves you money."

Bartering on Craigslist has grown substantially during the economic downturn. There were 126,710 listings in the barter category last month -- up 80 percent compared with May 2006.

In Minnesota, bartering is up 77 percent over the same period, with 3,531 barter listings in May.

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