[vbmoneyspender]

U.S. banks are reducing their lending at the fastest rate on record, tightening the credit squeeze and threatening to leave many otherwise viable businesses unable to borrow money to expand their businesses, meet their payroll or refinance their maturing debts

[sport]

If the businesses were making a profit, they would not have to borrow money to hire people, buy inventory, or expand. If they have to borrow money to do that , they are probably going belly up anyhow.