Business Notebook: Consumer survey shows growing confidence

A fall survey by a banking group shows Missourians' collective opinion on the economy is improving.

The Arvest Consumer Sentiment Survey, which is conducted by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Arkansas twice annually, reported Missouri's consumer sentiment index jumped from 68.6 in June to 77.4 through the end of October.

Increases in confidence for Missouri consumers came from four areas, according to a release from Arvest Banks, including for 18- to 24-year-olds, respondents who rent their homes, from people older than 65 and from people who are not in the labor force.

The survey reported the gains were driven by factors such as lower gasoline prices and recent increases in employment growth.

Gasoline prices keep falling

Friday's average price per gallon for gasoline in Missouri was $2.50, down 10 cents from the start of the week, and gas prices in the state are falling faster than the dip for the national average, according to several surveys released last week.

As of last Monday, the change in gas prices in Missouri when compared to the same day a year ago were 33.3 cents a gallon lower and 21.9 cents a gallon lower than a month ago, according to a report by GasBuddy.com, an online, real-time service that reports national to local gas prices.

The site also reported the national average price for gasoline has reached the lowest level since December 2010.

Downtown stores open late Friday

An annual downtown Christmas open house event hosted by Old Town Cape is set for 5 to 9 p.m. Friday in Cape Girardeau.

Stores decorate for the event and shoppers can enter to win a $1,500 shopping spree at participating local retailers, according to a news release from Old Town Cape. Shoppers can register for the drawing by visiting a booth at Hutson's Fine Furniture, 43 S. Main St., at a location set up for photos with Santa at 116 N. Main St., or at Discovery Playhouse at 502 Broadway. Tickets will be given to participants to drop off at the participating stores during the open house hours.

The stores include Annie Laurie's Antiques, Annie-Em's At Home, Broadway Prescription Shop, C.P. McGinty Jewelers, Cup n' Cork, Hotshots Sports Bar & Grill, Hutson's Fine Furniture, Jayson Jewelers, Lattitudes Fair Trade Store, Merci, Philanthropy, Renaissance, Shoppe La La, Sloan + Themis, Socials Cafe & Catering, Somewhere in Time Antiques, Stash, Sweet Designs Boutique, The Corner Grocery & Gourmet Chocolates, Yearning 4 Yarn and Zickfield's Jewelers. Old Town Cape will announce the winner by Dec. 10.

BBB to hold open house

A new Cape Girardeau office of the Better Business Bureau will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house Dec. 8.

During the open house, representatives of the organization will be on hand to speak about its purposes and mission. The new office is serving eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois. The event will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the office at 3065 William St., Suite 202.

Wiethop Truck Sales marks anniversary

Wiethop Truck Sales at 2350 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau recently held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the business and new extended hours starting this month. The business opened in 1954 in Cape Girardeau. The new hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Local chambers set monthly events

The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its First Friday Coffee event from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Friday at Isle Casino Event Center. This month's sponsors are Canedy Sign & Graphics and The Rite Group.

The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its Business After Hours event from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Creative Edge in Jackson. This month's sponsor is 1st Class Travel.

Jackson chamber elects new officers

The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce has elected new officers to its board of directors. Wade Bartels of the Jackson School District, Jeff Slinkard of Baer and Edington accountants, Kyle Thompson of the Bank of Missouri and Dennis Vinson of Signature Packaging, will serve on the 2015 board, according to a news release.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632