Upbeat Economic News: It's Not All Gloom & Doom

HELENA -- With Montana’s unemployment rate at an amazingly low 2%, finding qualified workers for Helena employers is the biggest challenge facing the city’s employment agencies.

SYDNEY -- Australia's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate fell to a record low of 4.1% in January from 4.3% in December, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's financial chief said Wednesday he will cut salary and corporate taxes and abolish duties on beer and wine after a booming economy pushed the city's budget surplus to a record high.

SEATTLE -- The unemployment rate in Washington fell to a near-record low of 4.5% in January, in part thanks to the creation of 5,800 new jobs last month.

TAIPEI -- The unemployment rate came in at 3.8% in January, down from 3.83% in December, and the lowest jobless rate for January in seven years.

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil's economy is estimated to have grown by as much as 5.3% last year, its highest rate in three years, as booming commodity exports and a stable currency helped Brazil record a $40 billion trade surplus. Inflation came in under 5%, and employment and foreign investment have reached record highs.