Jobless figures nationwide are at the highest levels since World War II. While Nebraska is faring better, half the latest national average of 7.2%, business closings and layoffs are still hitting home.

One car dealership closed its doors this weekend. Three retail stores will quickly follow, all of Omaha's Cost Plus World Market stores. And an information technology company is cutting its workforce.

It's leaving many with a feeling of uncertainty, wondering what's next.

Cost Plus World Market has announced a 26-store cutback, including all of its Omaha and Minneapolis outlets.

"There was some hint of it, I think, earlier in the week corporate-wide and then I came in at the end of the week and HR told me, so that was pretty upsetting," says employee Helen Paasch, who works at the 78th and Dodge Street location.

Paasch is fortunate in a way. For her, the job was part-time.

"And I felt bad for all of the full-time employees because this was their livelihood and I'm like, oh gosh, where are they gonna go?"

It's the way of the economy, she says. Customers just aren't spending like they used to. "They're cutting back on what you would call frivolous stuff, those little extra things. I did that. My husband and I both did that this year."

The country's car sales slump has apparently found its way to Omaha as well with Reagan Buick at 185th and Dodge near Village Pointe reportedly shutting down sales Friday and its service department on Saturday.

Channel 6 News could not reach the dealership's president for comment. It does not appear the Reagain Infiniti dealership nearby is affected.

"MSI is open for business as usual." That’s the message we got when attempting to reach MSI Integrators at 143rd and First National Parkway. This week, the information technology company announced 32 local positions were being eliminated.

"It's different than it was a year ago, that's for sure," says World Market customer Scott Ringland, who’s got friends who've been laid off recently in other industries. "Groceries and things like that you have to have. They'll of course stay in business, but the extras is where people are trimming the fat."

"We're kind of watching it because you don't know what's going to happen, unfortunately,” says Paasch, who knows she'll have to find another part-time job now and suspects it won't be easy.

A World Market employee says liquidators are coming in Monday to help move their merchandise at deep discounts. That should last for the next two to three months.