Psychic business sees economic boost

ST. PETERSBURG - Tampa Bay area psychic Elizabeth Sturino she says she can see the future by laying out a deck of cards.

In a time when the economy is struggling and many people don’t know what’s in store for them, more and more are turning to psychics.

“We had a slow improvement up until December.  Each month a little more,” she said. “And then December, we just [got] bombarded."

Business has picked up dramatically since the economy tanked. Sturino says her clients have doubled in the last three months.

“Psychic readers historically do better during hard economic times because people are looking for answers, looking for comfort,” Sturino said. “[They’re looking for] some good news somewhere, a light at the end of the tunnel."

Though relationship advice is typically the most popular topic for psychics to address, the uncertain state of the economy has shifted the subject of many people’s concerns.

“Are they going to keep their job? Are they going to get laid off?” Sturino said. “Can they keep their home? Are they going to be able to make ends meat? Things like that."

While there are no national statistics on psychic business, FOX 13 made several phone calls around the Bay area to other offices and they say their business has also picked up.

Customers say the readings help them find answers to the future. As for the year ahead, Sturino says she sees people’s financial woes letting up a bit.

"I'm going to tell you what I’ve been saying since mid-February,” she said. “From February to March people are going to start relaxing a bit more -- start spending a little more."