Business going great

TASMANIA’S small and medium businesses are smiling. Not only are they the most confident in Australia, but year -on-year retail growth was almost 2 per cent.

The latest Sensis Business Index shows 73 per cent of small businesses are confident with only 13 per cent reporting a negative outlook.

Sensis chief executive John Allan said Tasmania was leading the nation in terms of business confidence and perception of the economy.

“We haven’t seen numbers this strong for nearly 10 years,’’ Mr Allan said.

“Unsurprisingly, Tassie small businesses’ expectations for the year ahead are among the most positive in Australia for all indicators with Tassie showing the only positive capital expenditure balance in the country for 2018.”

Business groups said State Government incentives had inspired much of the confidence.

“Business confidence is up again — thanks to the Tasmanian Government policies based around training schemes and small business management programs,’’ Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Michael Bailey said.

Tasmanian Small Business Council executive officer Robert Mallett said: “It is particularly pleasing to note the report found those who regard the Government positively pointed to the small business training schemes, incentives, subsidies and grants on offer”.

Liquor sales recorded 6.08 per cent growth followed by cafes, restaurants and takeaways at 3.85 per cent, but clothing, footwear and personal accessories were 0.39 per cent, the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows.

Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the Australian Retailers Association, said department stores suffered a 0.30 per cent sales decline.

Tasmania has the fourth best result behind Victoria (4.46 per cent), South Australia (4.34 per cent) and New South Wales (2.74 per cent).

Total average sales for the country were up 2.49 per cent.

The Sensis Index showed Hobart was the most confident capital city in Australia, with confidence up 13 points to +65 while regional confidence had increased 7 points to +57.