UA economist: Double-dip recession unlikely
Birmingham News – Aug. 11
There’s been a lot of talk among the national punditry about whether the United States will slip back into a recession. One of Alabama’s leading economic forecasters says he doesn’t think there will be a double-dip, and even if there is, Alabama has enough of a foothold to weather it pretty well. “The economy is turning around, it’s just not turning around fast enough to add jobs,” Ahmad Ijaz said earlier this week. “Even though businesses are making record profits, they’re just not hiring enough people because of the uncertainty. They’re not sure whether the economy will go back into recession.” Ijaz, who is director of forecasting for the University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research, said Alabama has added 36,000 to 37,000 jobs since January. He forecasts 2 percent to 2.5 percent growth this year, after the state posted 2 percent growth a year ago. That “hopefully” will be enough to keep the state from backsliding terribly even if the nation as a whole slips back into recession. “But these things are very hard to predict,” he said.
Women in business face challenges, speaker says
Tuscaloosa News – Aug. 12
The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama’s Women in Business Council recognized six women at its fifth annual awards luncheon Thursday. Here is a look at the winners:… -Pam Parker, vice president for advancement at the University of Alabama, received the Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in professional life and service to the community…