(Columbia) – Governor David M. Beasley today hailed new figures that show South Carolina’s economy continues to be among the strongest in the nation.
 South Carolina’s unemployment dipped to 3.2 percent in June, putting the state among the nation’s leaders in employment. Also, a U.S. Department of Commerce report shows that South Carolina, tying with Alaska, had the fastest growth in personal income during the first quarter of this year, at 2.3 percent.
 “These figures show what should be undeniable to anyone who looks around – South Carolina is booming,” Governor Beasley said. “The people of South Carolina should be proud of their success, because their hard work and dedication are creating this growing economy.”
 In 1994, the year before Governor Beasley took office (when the national economy was already booming), only 16 states had higher unemployment rates than South Carolina’s. Now, only 10 states have lower rates than South Carolina’s.
 Since Governor Beasley took office, the state has had three straight years where capital investment has topped a record $5 billion. Since 1995, 80,000 new jobs have been created, a record for any three-year period in the state’s history.