Continued business confidence:Northern Region Chamber survey

20 August 2013

Continued business confidence in Northern Region Chamber survey

A Chamber of Commerce survey undertaken last week of northern region businesses suggests that confidence is still steady, with firms predicting that things will continue as they were last quarter.

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Max Mason reports that results do not suggest any dramatic change in confidence this quarter.

“The results this quarter are what I would expect and reflect results of other New Zealand business monitors – which suggest confidence is still up and rising, albeit slower than earlier in the year. Respondents are still concerned about customer demand, the value of the New Zealand dollar, as well as the local costs of doing business, and finding skilled staff,” he said.

Latest survey results indicate that in relation to their own business 57% of business owners believe their own business situation will improve, up slightly from last quarter at 56% and a year ago at 54% - with 34% predicting the same situation for their businesses in the next six months. 9% think it will deteriorate.

In relation to the general business situation in New Zealand 50% of business owners believe that will improve over the next six months down 2% from last quarter but up 17% from August last year. 43% of businesses believe that the general New Zealand business situation will remain the same, and 7% think it will deteriorate.

“Despite the continued business and consumer confidence, businesses are still waiting for the confidence to be translated into bottom line profit,” Mr Mason said.

ENDS

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