Business confidence to be measured in the lead up to Christmas

The Gympie Region Business Survey has already attracted keen interest after a recent national poll reported a positive turnaround in business confidence levels in time for festive season.

Governance and Economic Development Portfolio Councillor, Cr Tony Perrett, said interest comes after a September Roy Morgan Research survey found Australian business confidence rose to the highest level since January 2011 - the largest single rise since the national Business Confidence Survey began in 2010.

The two biggest factors found to be contributing to increased confidence nationally were more businesses expecting good economic conditions over the next year (75 per cent) and more businesses believing now was a good time to invest (66 per cent).

Cr Perrett said: "With a more optimistic outlook nationally, we're keen to see if more positive signs flow through for our regional economy in our next business survey, which will run through November.

"We had already seen some key indicators back in May, when our seventh survey found a third of respondents reporting stronger business performance over the preceding six months and more, around 40 per cent, forecasting even better results for the six months ahead.

"Recently-released building figures also promote business confidence and the region's competitive advantages, with 73 per cent listing the affordability of doing business in the region as a major plus.

"But, with the majority of May respondents projecting no change or only a slight increase in profitability, staffing levels and capital investment earlier this year, November's survey is shaping up to be very interesting indeed."

The biannual Gympie Region Business Survey, formerly known as the Gympie Region Business Confidence Survey, is conducted by Boardroom Business and supported by Gympie Regional Council.

Cr Perrett said it was imperative that local business operators participate in order to help shape an accurate picture of local business conditions.

"Business confidence levels are an important barometer of economic activity and one of the few forward-projecting data sets available to our business community," he said.

"It helps us monitor the pulse of our economy and capture direct feedback from businesses, which in turn assists astute business operators and investors in their planning and decision-making.

"This is why we want more operators to log-on and take a few minutes to complete the survey."

In addition to standard baseline questions, November's survey will focus on the region's business organisations, and how operators and organisations can work together to achieve their respective goals.

For more information visit Gympie Region Council