Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

Simon Says: If you hire, chances are you won’t fire

The current labor market has been described as a “low hire, low fire” economy. The graph below shows the number of hires per month in Georgia along with the number of separations. Hiring rose after the pandemic, peaking at 325,000 in February 2022. Separations, including layoffs and voluntary quits, followed a similar upward trend but peaked later in June 2022. Hiring and separations have declined to about half their peak level in the latest data for October 2025. Hires are about 20,000 per month lower than their long-term average, and

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Consumer Stories

Simon Says: Job Outlook

In the first local economic news release since September 19th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that employment in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) rose in September from August. The largest gains were seen in leisure and hospitality, up 500. Employment in this sector now stands at a seasonally adjusted 28,715, a record high for Augusta. Education and health services employment increased by 250, and government employment increased by 175. In the government sector, federal jobs continued to decline and are down 500 since February. Local government jobs

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Consumer Stories

Five-star awards for Doctors Hospital

AUGUSTA (12/22/2025): Doctors Hospital today announced it has earned fourteen specialty care honors from Healthgrades, the #1 site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital. These distinctions reflect Doctors Hospital’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care across a broad range of clinical specialties. Among its 2026 recognitions, Doctors Hospital earned one Specialty Excellence Award, placing the hospital among the top 10% nationwide for Surgical Care. The hospital also received five-star ratings for seven services, including Cardiac, Orthopedics, Vascular, Gastrointestinal, Critical Care, Surgical Care, and Outpatient Services. 2026

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Consumer Stories

National Bank Gives Big Check to Feed Hungry

Just before Christmas, a $30,000 check appeared under Golden Harvest Food Bank’s tree to help fight hunger in a big way in 2026. GHFB is one of 100 non-profits to receive a total of $5 million this holiday season. Over the next five years, Bank of America will be committing $250M over the next five years to support food insecurity across American communities. Employees of Bank of America plan to volunteer more than 100,000 hours between now and the end of the year to assist organizations focused on hunger relief

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Consumer Stories

The Salvation Army of Augusta Calls on Stores & Community to Close $50,000 Gap Before Christmas Eve

Stores like Bass Pro, Belk in Evans and North Augusta, all of the Food Lions and Walmarts in Augusta, Evans, Martinez, and North Augusta, and at Hobby Lobby in Augusta and North Augusta, and Augusta Mall are helping The Salvation Army of Augusta’s 2025 Red Kettle Campaign to reach its goal before bell ringing concludes on Christmas Eve. The Red Kettle Campaign is The Salvation Army’s largest fundraiser of the year, providing critical funding that sustains programs and services throughout the year. Every donation made—whether at a physical Red Kettle or online—stays

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Consumer Stories

Early Christmas Gifts

When we think of a random act of kindness over the holidays, usually images of a free coffee or an angel tree gift is carried out. SRP Federal Credit Union gave an average of $5000 gift to 23 charities just in time for the holidays. ABD has inquired into which charity received what amount of money. In the spirit of the season and in keeping with the credit union philosophy of People Helping People, SRP Federal Credit Union is proud to announce that its Board of Directors has approved a

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B2B Stories

Cuts to major tourism engine in Augusta

Publisher’s Note: As part of the City of Augusta’s $21 million shortfall, non-profits are expected to lose discretionary funding in 2026. For Arts in the Heart, ABD’s learned it will mean the loss of $85,000 used to pay for security fees like sheriff’s department officers. The following is a guest column from M. Denise Tucker, Executive Director. While my priority is to get to work, find solutions, stabilize services, and support the communities that will feel the impact of the City’s decision, as Director of the Arts Council, I could

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Consumer Stories

E-Z GO® part of tonight’s first-ever Golf Competition

Tonight, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy will lead two four-man teams in an inaugural live event from Florida. Augusta’s own E-Z GO will be shuttling all the pros to each part of the skills competition. Some of the world’s top golfers will use customized E-Z-GO Freedom RXV® ELiTE golf cars during the competition. The challenges include the Timed Drive and Short Game Competitions, the 14-Club Challenge in which players will go through the bag – including driver and putter – in a closest-to-the-pin contest from the fairway, the Team Relay

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