TREND WATCH

A roundup of business developments spotted by other publications. Items were compiled and edited by Grassroots Research, a unit of the San Francisco money management firm RCM Capital Management. Credit AT&T;: The unexpected popularity of AT&T;’s Universal Card is causing the telecommunications giant to look for space to build a second customer service center. It plans to boost employment at its center in Jacksonville, Fla., from 2,000 to 2,500. But with response to its credit card running about twice what it expected and 3.1 million accounts established between March and September, the company needs more space soon. It said it is looking at Western cities, including Reno. Florida Times Union

Natural Gas: Natural gas prices have not jumped along with oil prices, and if oil prices stay up, gas companies could reap big benefits as consumers sign up for the cheaper fuel. Northwest Natural Gas in Oregon believes that the Mideast crisis can improve its fortunes. The company was negotiating with its major suppliers when Iraq invaded Kuwait, yet prices remained stable. Why? Because experts estimate that North America has 200 years’ worth of “technically reachable” natural gas in the ground. Northwest says new subscriptions were up 27% in September, compared to the same month last year. Portland Oregonian

PC Business: PC makers have begun a huge print and television campaign aimed at European small business. The top 15 players’ spending in the first half of the year reached $91 million. IBM alone is expected to spend $40 million in the second half, mostly to tout the PS/1. Zenith will spend $23 million on PC ads during 1990. Commodore and Atari, which specialize in home and game computers, have begun to offer small-business packages to retain market share. Marketing

Upbeat Sales: The economy may be slowing, but music sales are up 11% to $3.5 billion the first six months of the year. Of note: 45s and LPs continue their downward trend, off 35% and 68%, respectively. Compact discs are up 36% over last year, cassettes 5%. A record store manager said: “Music is a good escape, and it’s not that expensive.” Yonkers (N.Y.) Herald Statesman