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Sarasota News Leader March 15, 2013 Page 37 her know the walk generated 167,807,055 media impressions (persons learning about the event through the print media or online). Jennifer Mitchell, marketing director for Circus Sarasota — which featured Wallenda during its shows this season — pointed out that the walk captured an additional 29 million broadcast media impressions. • Unemployment claims were down 22 percent in January compared to January 2012: 910 versus 1,167, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Wallenda walked a wire between a crane on the bayfront and the Marina Tower condominium complex. His goal, he had said at the outset of his planning, was to put the beauty of the city in the spotlight. The February report notes the county collected $16,133,203 for all five of its gas taxes in the 2011 fiscal year; the collections for FY 2012 were $15,623,475. "Just about all of our economic numbers are pretty impressive except for gas tax [revenue]," County Commissioner Christine Robinson told the News Leader. "Unfortunately, we Circus Sarasota had projected 50 million media impressions altogether, Mitchell told the mostly don't see the budgetary impact from City Commission audience, so "[we] blew that these numbers until a year later, but it really looks like a bright and shiny future!" out of the water four times over." By the end of January 2012, the county had Among other data in the latest county eco- collected $2,451,882 of that tax revenue; by nomic report: Jan. 31 this year, the figure was $2,232,358. • Gross retail sales were up 3.2 percent year- Along with the economic data, the latest over-year in January. Monthly Pooled Investment Report, released • In December 2012 (the latest month for by County Clerk of Court Karen Rushing, which figures were available), the labor showed the county's portfolio balance at the force saw a 2.5 percent increase in the num- end of February at $913,427,231. That was ber of people holding jobs compared to De- down from about $920 million in January, cember 2011. The figure for those employed but the average for the four months from Auwas 149,345. Additionally, the unemploy- gust to November 2012 was approximately ment rate for the county decreased by 20.6 $835,750,000. percent from December 2011 to December 2012: 12,627 people who reported looking Since December, the month-end balance has for work compared to 15,910 a year earlier. remained above $900 million. % Take Your Time You Have All Week Enjoy The News Leader Anytime - Day or Night