(South Burlington, Vt.) The chief executives of Vermont’s leading businesses demonstrated an increasingly stable outlook in their economic forecasts for the coming six months, compared against the previous survey. The survey, which was completed between September 17 and September 28, was released today by Vermont Business Roundtable Chair Steve Voigt, CEO, King Arthur Flour and President Lisa Ventriss.
|
2012 Q3 Increase |
2012 Q3 No Change |
2012 Q3 Decrease |
Quarterly % Change Increase |
2012 Q2 Increase |
2012 Q2 No Change |
2012 Q2 Decrease |
|
| Sales |
62% |
28% |
10% |
-2% |
64% |
32% |
4% |
| Capital Spending |
43% |
48% |
9% |
10% |
33% |
58% |
9% |
| Employment |
43% |
48% |
10% |
11% |
32% |
60% |
8% |
“Overall, the Roundtable’s survey results indicate a high level of optimism in the economy when compared against the previous quarter,” said Steve Voigt, Chair of the Vermont Business Roundtable and President and CEO of King Arthur Flour. “Over 90 percent of members who responded are anticipating either increased or stable activity in sales, capital spending and employment. This bodes well for Vermont as we head into the holiday and winter recreation seasons.” These results contrast sharply with the Washington, D.C.-based Business Roundtable, whose similar quarterly survey shows a downshift in sentiments reflecting ongoing uncertainty about the strength of the nation’s recovery. For coverage of those results, click here.
The response rate for this quarter was 68 percent. Historically, rates have varied from 35 to 73 percent. The Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Survey provides a forward-looking view of the economic assumptions and attitudes of chief executive officers of the state’s top employers that represent Vermont’s agriculture, construction, education, health services, finance, real estate, insurance, hospitality/leisure, manufacturing, information, utilities, professional/business services, wholesale trade, and non-profit industries.
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