Economic Confidence Holds Steady in Oct.

RAPAPORT... 



Gallup's U.S. Economic Confidence Index increased slightly to negative 19 for the week ending on October 7, but remains within the range experienced most of this year. Democrats and Republicans continue to be sharply divided in their perceptions of the economy, although both improved slightly over the previous week, to 25 and negative 57, respectively. Independents continue to have net negative views of the economy at negative 24. Gallup concluded that agreement across party lines as well as improved perceptions of the current state of the economy will be crucial to moving the economic confidence reading from net negative to net positive.

The Birmingham Assay Office submitted its Project Gateway plan to create a new building in the Jewellery Quarter. The scheme has been 18 months in the making to ensure that it addresses the needs of the Assay Office as a secure, flexible facility.   The proposed new building will allow the business to continue to diversify and widen its range of services and innovative initiatives, as well as providing a new home for the Assay Office’s heritage collection to make it more readily accessible to members of the public.