Don't let the economy get to you. The people who lost their jobs were not teh same people who hired personal trainers. They were mostly manufacturing jobs.
The best certification is NASM, by far. I know because I'm certified through NASM, ACE and NHE. The ACE certification is for extreme beginners. NHE is designed for elite athletes or exercise science majors and is the toughest of all three. A study guide is a must or forgetaboutit (as this guy...