Growth in Georgians’ income among slowest in U.S.

[onehandle]

Source: AJC

WASHINGTON — If you’re short on cash, this might be the bottom-line reason why: Personal income in Georgia rose at a lower rate than almost anywhere else in the country last year, and wage growth didn’t even come close to keeping pace with inflation, according to figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Per capita personal income in Georgia rose by a mere 1.4 percent last year as employers cut jobs, eliminated bonuses and raises and forced some workers to take pay cuts.

Only three states — Nevada, Idaho and Arizona — had smaller increases in income, according to the Commerce Department.

Inflation, meanwhile, rose to 3.3 percent nationwide last year, up from 2.6 percent a year earlier, the Commerce Department reported. Georgia was one of only 13 states where the personal income growth rate was lower than the national inflation rate.

Read more: http://www.ajc.com/services/content/business/stories/2009/03/24/georgia_shrinking_income.html

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I'm going to go out on a limb and say not only did this happen because we went Republican, but that we deserve it for that very reason.

I've had to lay off nearly half my staff and we've had no raises for over two years.

[SkyDaddy7]

1. I agree!

The Repugs control this state! So, I would assume they are proud of this ranking.

[RebelOne]

2. That's not news to me.

I live in North Georgia. The office I work for in Marietta, GA, is part of a multi-million-dollar media corporation. No one here at this office has had a raise in 3 years. In fact, they re laying people off. I was one of 3 copy editors. Now I am the ONLY copy editor and doing the work of three people for no raise in pay. It's strange that our publisher just bought a new car. I guess he is the only one making more money.

[Papagoose]

3. So glad I chose to move here "for economic reasons"

I left PA in 2007 to live in Georgia mainly because the cost of living was much lower (and that my company moved). It hasn't worked out to plan - we live much leaner now, with much less cash available. The cost of living difference has all but disappeared; our company historically has paid an annual 4% cost of living adjustment plus merit raises and bonuses - 2008 brought a 2% cost of living adjustment, no merit raise and a small bonus, but we did get an 11% increase in our share of health care costs. We've already been told there will be no raises or bonuses whatsoever in 2009.

[Swede Atlanta]

4. That's our Sonny for you.....................

The General Assembly has done nothing to encourage job and wage development, employee training, etc. They are so worried about giving someone a taxcut (which they always fail to do) they can't be bothered with programs that would actually help attract good paying jobs to the state or encourage existing employers to build out their businesses here.

The most recent antics from the Gold Dome have been pathetic. Attempts to add sales taxes back on groceries at a time when wages are shrinking and unemployment continues to rise. The whole 'car tax' discussion is a gimmick. While at one level I don't like the fact I have to pay a higher licensing fee if I drive a late-model car, it is analagous to a progressive income tax. If I can afford (which of course driving an expensive car doesn't necessarily mean) a more expensive car then I can afford to contribute more. Our state gas taxes are significantly lower than in other states.

When the 'embryo protection law' was up for discussion it mirrored the desparation of the regional GOP party. They are so beholden to their Bibles (which they actually have never read from cover to cover) and guns. I am a Christian but these types go way too far. This law likely would be a signal to any bio-tech company, regardless of whether they were involved in stem cell research or not, that we are a state that will bow to the religious right at every turn. Why would I invest in Georgia when I never know if a preacher is going to start railing against some new drug treatment I am developing, etc. for some obscure religious reason and turn my entire operation on its head? I will just stay north of the Mason-Dixon line to avoid that possibility. This type of pandering to the Biblio-fascists is driving investment and jobs away from Georgia.

[BeGoodDoGood]

5. G is for Generic

I moved to Georgia from Nashville. This place to me is last in about everything. And Sonny -- what a joke. We've had no government since they vote-stole Gov. Barnes out of office.

Walt

[groundloop]

6. There's nothing wrong with living in Georgia ....

that turning the state blue wouldn't fix.

IMHO the state economy was largely propped up by an unsustainable housing boom, which was artificially boosted by state and local giveaways to builders and developers.

We're actually very happy here, it would just be nice if our county weren't so dam red.

[wilt the stilt]

7. Ha Ha Ha Ha-LOL

that's a funny joke. Turning Georgia blue. We are the only state in the union to increase it's percentage of republicans since 2006. I live in Gwinnett county and there is no way we will be turning blue anytime soon and I used to cover all of Georgia as I was a traveling salesman selling to places like Dalton, Macon and Warner Robins and Dublin. Any more good jokes.

[BeGoodDoGood]

9. I am in Duluth.

[RebelOne]

11. I am in Woodstock in Cherokee County. It's a very red area. n/t

[bitchkitty]

10. The next few years

might make a HUGE difference in the attitudes of voters. You never know...

[RubyDuby in GA]

8. But at least SonnyBubba got his boat ramps...

I'm not surprised. My company let go of 7 people last year (we only had 22). We're about to let someone else go and we've all had to take roughly 20% paycuts to keep the doors open.

I relish the opportunity to rub this in the Republicans faces, but really wish it wasn't this bad.

The only good thing about this is that the Republicans will rip each other to shreds over the next year running for Gov and a couple of other offices. If the Dems could put together a unified ticket with strict messaging from top to bottom hitting these assholes daily for their failures, then we would stand a pretty good chance of taking the state back. I know...then I woke up from my dream and laughed so hard I nearly tinkled on myself.

The Democratic Party of Georgia is a joke.

[blue_onyx]

12. Here's a link that shows other states

It's surprising for my state not to be number one. We're usually at the top of the list when it comes to bad economic news.

http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/spi/2009/pdf/spi0309.pdf

[mitchum]

13. I can't wait to leave this nest of self-defeating peckerwoods

There is a very good reason that Erskine Caldwell and Flannery O'Connor set their galleries of grotesques in this place

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[YoungAndOutraged]

15. There's no jobs here in Middle Ga.

The place is a cesspool. The local news only concentrates on the upper class, who don't have to worry where their next paycheck is coming from, if it even comes at all. If I had the chance, I'd get the hell out of this state and never come back.

[Laelth]

16. Welcome to DU.

:dem:

-Laelth