The Isle of Man's growth figures last week were hard evidence the economy here is standing up well to the battering being meted out in the United Kingdom.
Gross Domestic Product - the value of goods and services produced in the Island - rose to over ?1.8 billion, an increase of more than 11 per cent on the previous year, in the 24th year of consecutive growth.
There is wide agreement the Island won't escape the effects of the economic downturn, but so far the defences seem to be holding.
Chief executive of the Mannin Media Group Steve Brown told Marian Kenny businesses here remained optimistic, which was half the battle:
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