Both Apple and HP appealed to consumers to claw their way out of slumps.

FORBES: Why Dell Isn't The Next Apple

In 1991 the Indian government sold similar bonds to expatriates to claw its way out of a balance-of-payments crisis.

ECONOMIST: Indian bonds

There's the obvious concern about people spending less money and the difficulty in securing loans as the banking industry tries to claw its way out of meltdown mode.

CNN: African immigrant, mom sees fruits of healthy baby food

So do those who had just begun to claw their way out of the slums but are now impoverished once again: this year perhaps another 100m people in East Asia will be unable to meet their basic needs.

ECONOMIST: Its champions are down but not out