Last week I gave my annual economic forecast, and for those unable to attend, here are the highlights. In the first part, I analyzed the impact of Hurricane Helene on the labor market. Augusta recorded a record level of employment in October, the month after Helene hit. Employment rose by 100 to 248,000. Four Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) were hit by Helene (Augusta, Hinesville, Savannah, and Valdosta), and employment in those MSAs rose by 175 on average. Employment in MSAs totally unaffected by Helene fell to 88. Additionally, earnings in

The state of Metro Augusta’s economy is good. That was the overarching message at the annual economic briefing sponsored by Augusta University. Led by Dr. Mark Thompson, Dean of the Hull College of Business, and Dr. Simon Medcalfe, Professor with the Hull College of Business and an ABD contributor, the report is a year-end tradition. “It’s an opportunity to really bring the business community together with the academic community to provide insights on what’s going on in the local economy,” Thompson explained for ABD. “It’s networking but it’s also an