Special character "+" in flash datagrid

1

I have a Flash datagrid loading information from a MySql database via php. I’ve made sure that MySql is sending out UTF-8. I’ve made sure that PHP is also writing UTF-8. I want to display this text: “+0.75” in a Flash datagrid column. Unfortunately, its showing up as 0.75 and dropping the + no matter what I do. Any suggestions? Please help! Pulling my hair out.