A preview of next year’s economy in...

A preview of next year’s economy in the five-county area, based on projections by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.:

Orange County

Continuing Hangover: The effects of bankruptcy will probably continue to drag on Orange County’s economy. The county in 1996 should post only modest growth of 1.6% in nonfarm jobs. The area could lose about 5,000 high-tech jobs. However, its unemployment rate will likely remain the lowest in the five-county area, declining slightly from 5.4% to 5.2%. The office vacancy rate should hover around 14.7%--near the national average. Total personal income will probably rise 7.4% and retail sales should grow 4.5%.