Author: Jeffrey Humphreys

Augusta’s outlook is promising thanks to cybersecurity and the life sciences.

For Columbus-Muscogee County, there’s much to celebrate in 2017.

By nearly every measure, the outlook for Georgia’s economy in 2017 is very good.

In Valdosta, an Air Force base and university plus small business development means things are looking good.

It’s brighter days ahead for Georgia’s hospitality industry.

How much does a region benefit from hosting a learning institution?

The college town is set to benefit from four area- specific trends.

Despite cuts at Fort Benning, the Columbus region has much to look forward to.

The coastal city’s growth prospects are some of the best in the nation.

The 2016 economic forecast for Georgia shows growth and new businesses on the horizon.

The state capital’s ongoing economic recovery is underpinned by population growth and a strong housing market.

The office, industrial, retail and government subsectors of the nonresidential construction industry will all see improvements into 2016.

It’s a mixed bag for the world of financial planners and stockbrokers.

Prospects look good for the cable and satellite TV industries in Georgia.

Retail sales are ticking up, sustained by growth in employment and a boost in consumers’ confidence.

The housing upturn will provide a substantial boost to the number of new homeowners’ and title policies written in Georgia.

The real estate market is recovering, with pent-up demand to sell bubbling to the surface.

Life is looking a bit sweeter for Columbus, Macon and Savannah in 2015.

Things are looking up for Georgia’s A-Team: Atlanta, Albany, Athens and Augusta.

This year, Georgia’s job growth will continue and is expected to exceed the U.S.’s rate.

More than 392,000 Georgians claim Asian ancestry, making the group a powerful force in the consumer market.

The state’s trucking and cargo industries are looking good heading into 2015.

Advanced manufacturing will continue to be a source of high-paying jobs in 2015.

Get ready for an uptick in the state’s lumber and wood products industry as the economy continues to recover.

The immense buying power of Hispanics continues to energize the U.S. consumer market.

Approximately 1 million retirees live in Georgia, and they could help move the state’s economy onto a higher growth path.

From an expanding healthcare sector and more manufacturing to UGA’s new College of Engineering, the Athens area is set to grow.

The economic situation in Columbus has changed for the better. The U.S. and state economies are expanding at a faster pace, providing a stronger tailwind to the Columbus area in 2014. Last year, I was deeply concerned about how the…

Convergence of previously separate communications industries has brought more intense price competition, innovation and proliferation of service offerings.

Atlanta, Athens and Augusta are seeing recoveries fueled in part by new manufacturing projects, the healthcare sector and higher education.

In the interest of economic development, retiree recruitment makes good sense for some of Georgia’s rural areas.

Single-family home prices should rise by 8 percent in 2014. Lower-priced homes will appreciate fastest.

A near doubling of the University System’s economic impact since FY 1990 represents a 98 percent growth – a gain that far outstrips inflation.

Property and casualty insurers are very likely to earn record levels of underwriting profits on personal lines in 2014 – barring catastrophic events.

This year Georgia will be the nation’s fourth largest state-level black consumer market. State totals will reach $66 billion.

Businesses need to spend more to improve productivity. As confidence in the economic situation slowly improves, the demand for loans should rise.

Large retailers will gain at the expense of smaller ones, and discount retailers will gain at the expense of mid-price and luxury retailers.

The massive restructuring of Georgia’s private sector is now complete, and the state has landed some large relocation and expansion projects.

Spending on information services will grow much faster than state GDP in 2013.

The private sector has done most of the restructuring that was needed, so the economy is broadening.

There’s lots of uncertainty in many critical federal government policy areas, including the budget, the tax code and regulation.

Government spending and employment will decline sharply. The nastiest declines at the federal level have yet to occur.

Checking in with Atlanta, Albany, Athens and Augusta for an update on their economic prospects.

One job out of every 40 in Georgia owes its existence to life sciences – the industry itself, research and development or the presence of the CDC in Atlanta.