B2B Stories

Last week I reported that the Augusta Labor Market Index (LMI) was up 1.5 percent on an annual basis, but how does this stack up against other metro areas in Georgia? Better than it has in the recent past. The strongest labor markets in Georgia remain Atlanta and Savannah, increasing at 2.8 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively. The LMI for Georgia increased at 2.4 percent from a year ago, the same as in the first quarter of the year. Athens continues to have strong growth. Other metro areas that used

  Dr. Rick Franza, Dean of the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about the economy and what’s driving the financial markets. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: We’re hearing some economic news that usually indicates strength but the financial markets are reacting as if things are bad. What is causing this disconnect? Rick: There are always some differences between the economy and the markets. Part of that is in the economy we

The Augusta Labor Market Index (LMI) increased 0.2 percent in July from June. It now stands 1.5 percent higher than in July 2021. In the last month, improvements were seen in employment, unemployment, earnings and hours worked. Only the labor force declined, by 700 people. The biggest improvement was seen in average weekly wages which increased 9.8 percent from a year earlier, enough to compensate for higher inflation. This is a sharp turnaround from 2021 when earnings were falling in the local area. Workers have been able to demand higher