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, government and businesses leaders during the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation’s investors meeting Thursday. “I see some very positive numbers. The stock market has tripled in the last six years,” he said. 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. Jackson County is also well situated in the energy sector. (Source: gulflive, 11/04/15) Moss Point is home of the Northrop Grumman Unmanned Systems Center, which builds portions of the Global Hawk and Fire Scout, and it’s not far from where Airbus is building A320 jetliners in Mobile, Ala. Pascagoula is also home of a major Chevron refinery.