Georgia seeks a state chamber of commerce to advocate for chambers in Augusta and other smaller cities, and there’s a push to stop a planned electric vehicle plant east of Atlanta. – Augusta Business Daily by Mike Petchenik
With the nation’s inflation rate at 8.5 percent – the highest since December 1981 – it’s no surprise that inflation is now the biggest concern of small businesses, topping even the labor shortage issue. According to the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), 31 percent of small business owners surveyed in March reported inflation as their top concern, a 5 percent increase from February. The labor shortage was the top concern for 22 percent of businesses. According to the survey, 72 percent of business owners reported having to raise prices
Kayaking to an island of goats and donkeys and camping in an air-conditioned tent with a coffeemaker sound like exotic destination spots. But both can be found within Columbia County. Shelly Blackburn, executive director of the Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the county’s destination marketing agency, spoke to a group of local real estate agents and home services professionals at a CSRA Home Connections meeting on Wednesday about those and other attractions that draw visitors to the county. It’s an important economic venture – in 2019, Columbia County tourism
The longest-running, locally-owned pest control company in the CSRA is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with a party later in the month. A & R Exterminating is owned by the Isdell family and provides pest control, termite inspections/treatments, bed bug treatments, and wildlife inspections and exclusion. A&R Exterminating belongs to Georgia, South Carolina, and CSRA Pest Control Associations. Their party is from 12-2 pm at their headquarters on 2605 Peach Orchard Road in Augusta, including giveaways and refreshments.
The gender pay gap in the United States is about 19 percent, meaning women in full-time, year-round work earn 81 cents for every dollar men earn. In Georgia, the gap is slightly higher at 24.4 percent. The pay gap has decreased from about 40 percent in the 1950’s through the 1970’s. Much of this decline can be attributed to women gaining more education. At Augusta University, the student body is 64 percent female. Given the increase in educational attainment, human capital acquisition explains little of the continued pay gap. Another
Raising interest rates to prod people into spending less to fight inflation may sound counterintuitive, but that’s what the nation’s Federal Reserve System is attempting. While the increments may seem small, they will affect local businesses and consumers. “Raising interest rates is the Fed’s main tool to deal with inflation,” said retired banker Dan Blanton, who had served as CEO of Georgia Bank & Trust (now South State). “The historic data bears out that it does work if you give it time.” On March 16, the Federal Reserve Board decided
The New Year brought some cheer to several sectors of the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area economy. The retail sector continued to gain jobs, employment in this sector was up 400 and is close to providing 30,000 jobs. Reassuringly, leisure and hospitality added almost 400 jobs as well. Manufacturing added a further 250 jobs and mining, logging, and construction added 400 jobs. Professional and business services saw an increase of over 600 jobs, following five consecutive months of declining jobs. These job gains were offset by losses of about 400 jobs
