Only my opinion, but I believe the gloom is far from over. Perhaps another year, who knows. It all started with housing and it will end with housing. The bubble is popping and when home values become more relatively aligned with incomes, the floor will establish itself and inventories will get back to 4-6 months. Home values were so far out of whack, I mean, who the heck could really fathom what your house could have fetched in 2006.
I put all my 401k in bonds in March 2008 (have not made any money, but have not lost any) and I cancelled my contributions in October to focus all money on debt elimination. That goal will be attained in July. No payments of any kind except my mortgage and a solid pile of cash savings for a cushion.
Just last week I cancelled my DSEPP participation because of the recent changes to the program making it MUCH less attractive.
In July, I will resume retirement saving with a vengeance, but I will begin with a ROTH IRA up to the annual maximum, then return to the UPS/Teamster 401k, due to the contributions being non-matched. I've come to realize that Roths are far superior for retirement than non-matching 401k's, for that reason and the virtual unlimited allocation choices.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents........ good luck to you and yours.