Aerospace an economy brightspot

MOSS POINT, Miss. -- The U.S. economy is nowhere near as bad off as many fear, Tulane University economics professor Peter Ricchiuti told more than 100 community leaders during the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation's investors meeting Thursday. "The economy is doing a lot better than you're hearing in the media," he said. "I see some very positive numbers. The stock market has tripled in the last six years." According to stock index performance for the year ending Sept. 30, the aerospace/defense index is up 3.2 percent, he said. That's especially good for Jackson County because of its existing businesses and potential to draw in more aerospace-related companies. "You are really in the sweet spot," he said. (Source: gulflive, 11/04/15) Moss Point is home of the Northrop Grumman Unmanned Systems Center, which builds portions of the unmanned Global Hawk and Fire Scout. It's also close to Mobile County, Ala., which is building Airbus jetliners.