Publisher’s Note: We are 1/3rd of the way through 2024. Let’s see how predictions are going so far for AU Hull College of Business professor, Dr. Rick Franza. Here is his report from four months ago! Last week, Augusta University’s Hull College of Business held its annual Economic Forecast Breakfast, and my inimitable colleague, Dr. Simon Medcalfe, gave his uniquely informative and amusing take on what the local economy may have in store for us in the coming year. Dr. Medcalfe has inspired me to break out my crystal ball

The Augusta Leading Economic Index (LEI) fell 0.1 percent in February from January. It remains 0.2 percent higher than February 2023. The components that contributed positively to growth were initial claims for unemployment insurance, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and job openings. Residential housing permits and higher inflation negatively impacted the index. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 69 percent in February from January. While claims normally fall in February, this percentage decline is the largest post-Covid. This bodes well for continuing low unemployment in the area. The Dow Jones