Economic Slump Continues, Could Ease In 2011

ATLANTA (AP) -- Georgia's recession continues.That's the word from the director of Georgia State University's Economic Forecasting Center.

Rajeev Dhawan said job losses continue to plague the Peach State. The third quarter of 2009 saw more than 50,000 jobs lost in Georgia, the fourth dismal quarter in a row.

Tax collections in the state also continue to plummet. Dhawan
said that's because unemployed Georgians are spending less.

Dhawan says that hospitality and airline industries will
continue to suffer from cutbacks in business travel and other
corporate belt-tightening. But the Kia plant opening in west
Georgia is good news for the state.

Dhawan said he sees the state's fiscal picture should improve in
2011.