Confidence highest since 2007

BUSINESS confidence remains positive across Townsville despite a slight fall in the outlook for the December quarter, a PVW Partners survey has found.

It also shows the average level of confidence across the year is second only to the boom conditions of 2007.

The business advisory and accounting firm surveys business owners and managers every quarter for its Townsville Business Confidence Change Index.

For the December quarter, the index score was seven points, down from nine points in the September quarter.

PVW Partners managing partner Carl Valentine (pictured) said 2021 was the highest average level of business confidence in Townsville since 2007, with that year being the highest in the survey’s 30-year history.

“This sustained level of positive business sentiment in 2021, despite all of the challenges we are dealing with, gives our economy an incredible, strong base for the future,” Mr Valentine said.

“We should be encouraged by the positivity shown by local business, both small and large.”

Mr Valentine said large businesses seemed to be having a better capacity to respond and adjust to change and had indicated throughout the year that they would not be cutting back on employment, capital expenditure, staff training or entertainment expenditure.

“It certainly appears that our larger businesses are gearing up for a bigger and better future in North Queensland, with their small-business counterparts not too far behind them,” he said.

While Covid-related lockdowns and border closures continued, and labour market and materials shortages were acute in some sectors, Mr Valentine said Townsville was in a good position economically.