The latest poll by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce shows continued optimism about the local business climate in 2018.
The monthly poll of chamber members showed business sentiment unchanged between December and January. The chamber’s Business Outlook Index stood at 19.7, marginally below the index’s long-term average and twice as high as the recent low of 9.3 in October 2016.
Expectations about all four components of the index—the number of employees in companies, number of hours offered to workers, revenue, and business conditions—were all holding steady in the report released Friday.
“Businesses in the consulting and cyber/software industries lead the way in confidence this month,” noted Tom Wornham, president and CEO of San Diego Private Bank, sponsor of the forecast. “Firms in both industries are optimistic about increasing their number of employees in the next three months, with business consulting firms also hopeful about increases in hours offered to workers and increases in revenue.”
The poll also asked local businesses about their top legislative priorities. Only 26 percent think the San Diego region is getting its fair share of state resources, and the top priorities for Sacramento lawmakers are seen as keeping a lid on taxes and addressing the lack of housing supply.
The latest survey was fielded Jan. 11-23 by Competitive Edge Research & Communication using responses from 202 randomly selected members of the San Diego, East County, Alpine, Escondido, Lakeside, Vista, Santee, Encinitas and National City Chambers of Commerce.
