SOME POSITIVE ECONOMIC NEWS FOR THE TRI CITIES. EAST TENNESSEEE STATE UNIVERSITY ECONOMIST DR. STEB HIPPLE SAYS RECENT JOB GROWTH CONTINUED INTO THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE YEAR FOR THE REGION.

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AREA EMPLOYMENT OVER THE SPRING MONTHS ROSE BY 2.8 PERCENT, MARKING THE NINTH QUARTER IN A ROW OF EMPLOYMENT GROWTH. THE JOBLESS RATE FOR THE TRI CITIES METRO AREA DURING THE APRIL TO JUNE PERIOD WAS 4.1 PERCENT, COMPARED TO 4.8 PERCENT A YEAR AGO. AS FOR THE FUTURE…

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HIPPLE SAYS THE NATIONAL ECONOMY IS TRANSITIONING TO A SLOWER BUT SUSTAINABLE GROWTH RATE, WHICH IS A FACTOR THAT WILL AFFECT THE TRI CITIES. THE OVERALL BUSINESS EXPANSION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO 2008.hipple1.mp3