THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, June 23, 1995                  TAG: 9506230534
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: D1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: (Staff) 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   20 lines

1-2-3 PUNCH NOT EXPECTED TO STALL VIRGINIA'S RECOVERY

Higher interest rates, a weakening national economy and declines in state and federal government employment will slow but not stall Virginia's economic recovery, according to an economic forecast released by the University of Baltimore Regional Economic Studies Program. the program projects employment growth of 2.6 percent for the next four quarters, down from the 3.2 percent growth of the previous four quarters. University economists predict job growth in the private sector to be 3.3 percent over the next four quarters. Growth in construction is expected to lead all major sectors of Virginia's economy. by CNB