“Growing labor participation rates point to an expanding job market. Wages are on the rise for many Americans, and recent gains in the stock market reflect optimism among investors,” he added.
Tennessee business leaders view the overall U.S. economy as stable, strong, and growing, which bodes well for the state’s economy, consumers, and workers.
“As businesses invest to grow and expand, they stimulate even further growth in the economy by hiring more workers,” Graeff said. “Also, when businesses spend money to expand operations and to make purchases from suppliers, this provides those other businesses with more money to hire more workers and grow their own businesses. This, coupled with increasing consumer confidence, can lead to even more economic growth.”
When asked to report what was on their minds when thinking about the future of the economy, no respondent mentioned the impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.
The current online survey of 104 business leaders from across Tennessee was conducted in partnership with the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry between Jan. 10 and Jan. 18.
The survey includes four sub-indices: current outlook, future outlook, business/firm outlook and employment outlook. Find the full survey report and previous reports at http://www.mtsu.edu/consumer/reportsbarometer.php.
The inaugural survey in July 2015 registered an index of 325. The next Tennessee Business Barometer survey is scheduled for April.
For more information about the MTSU Office of Consumer Research, visit www.mtsu.edu/consumer. For more information about the Tennessee Chamber, visit tnchamber.org.
