Unemployment insurance claims down in Ga.

ATLANTA - With Gainesville and Dalton leading the way, first-time unemploymnet insurance claims are down in Georgia by 28 percent from a month ago.

In Gainesville, they were down 50.2 percent; in Dalton, 56.4 percent.

At the other end of the spectrum, Hinesville posted a 22 percent increase and was the only one of the state's 14 metropolitan areas to record an increase between February and March.

Among other metro areas: Columbus recorded a 6.2 percent decline; Warner Robins, 7.9 percent; Albany, 8.4; Macon, 12 percent; Atlanta, 13.5 percent; Brunswick, 15.2 percent; Valdosta, 17.5; Savannah, 21.5; Augusta, 26; Athens, 36.4; and, Rome, 46.5.