|
|
|
Future's So Bright (Sort Of)
|
Business New Haven
12/22/2003
By: BNH
|
Connecticut purchasing managers are upbeat about the state's economy in 2004, according to a survey by the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) and the Connecticut Association of Purchasing Management (CAPM). Purchasing managers said they see significant improvements in the economic and business conditions of their industry and are optimistic about the outlook for 2004. Challenging conditions still exist for employment growth, but improvement has been noted in almost every other factor measured by the survey compared with results from nine months ago.
Fifty-seven percent of the respondents said they expect better economic conditions next year, compared with 50 percent making that prediction in the last survey (third quarter). Only 12 percent of respondents said their outlook for the economy in general was worse, compared with 25 percent expressing that view last quarter.
Also, survey respondents report no signs of deflation in prices. Prices paid for principle items are expected to increase or stabilize, not fall. Fifty-three percent of respondents reported higher prices this quarter, compared with 50 percent last quarter and 56 percent two quarters ago. With regard to employment, ten percent of respondents said they will increase employment (compared with nine percent at the beginning of the year), while 65 percent plan to keep the same number of workers. Twenty-five percent of purchasing managers said they expected to reduce their workforces. That's down from 37 percent last quarter.
|
Go FirstGo PreviousGo
NextGo LastGo
to Index
|
|
