Economic forecaster speaks in Gainesville

GAINESVILLE - A University of Georgia economics professor has told a Gainesville civic club he expects the economic recovery to be over by the end of the year and expansion to begin next year.

Jeffrey Humphreys expects 51,000 new jobs to be created in Georgia by the end of the year - a 3.1 percent increase, which would be better than the national average.

In a speech to the Gainesville Kiwanis Club Tuesday, Humphreys said the odds of the economy falling back into a recession is only 25 percent, compared to odds of 35 percent a year ago.

He also said expects a 4.8 percent ecoomic growth rate in Georgia this year - compared to 4.3 nationwide.

Humphreys added manufacturing" in Georgia is in a depression, having lost 100,000 jobs since 1998, but he forecasts some stability by
year's end.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/4/160655