Business confidence rose by nine points this quarter, to now sit at the highest level in more than five years among Australia’s small and medium businesses (SMBs), according to the latest Sensis Business Index (SBI) survey.
Sensis CEO, John Allan, said: “While sales and employment improved and prices remain positive, wages and profitability went backwards this quarter. These are not the results you would expect to see when confidence has lifted to a five year high.
“Rather than being driven by these indicators, confidence is instead being driven by perceptions that the overall economic environment is improving. On top of this, the non-cyclical influences remain strong, with businesses continuing to feel particularly positive about their own specific business strengths.”
The net balance score of +44 (the difference between the number of confident SMBs versus the number of worried SMBs) is the highest business confidence score recorded since March 2011.
Negative overall perceptions of economy
The Index, which reflects the views of 1000 SMBs from across Australia, also found that perceptions of the economy improved by 14 points this quarter, although they remain negative overall on -8.
Mr Allan said: “Perceptions of the economy have been negative for some time, and while they remain negative, they have improved to the best level we’ve seen in two years”.
“Concern about the economic environment has halved, with only one in twenty businesses now worried, while the number of businesses reporting a lack of work or sales as a barrier to taking on new staff fell from 51 per cent to 38 per cent; the lowest level we’ve seen since September 2014.”
Confidence gains at state level
At the state level there were confidence gains everywhere except for Tasmania and the Northern Territory. New South Wales extended its lead, while Western Australia is now the least confident state. South Australia is finally off the bottom, following a 24 point rise in confidence.
“The eastern seaboard states are now the shining lights for business confidence nationally. As you head across the continent, however, confidence deteriorates, with businesses in the Northern Territory and Western Australia the least confident in the nation, followed by South Australia” said Mr Allan.
“Tasmania has been on a roller coaster ride in recent times and saw the biggest fall this quarter, down 17 points, to now sit below average, having been the clear leader only two surveys ago.”
At a local level, confidence rose by 13 points in metropolitan areas (+50) but only rose by four points in regional areas (+35), with the gap between the two widening from six to 15 points this quarter.
“Metropolitan businesses are feeling more confident on all of the key performance indicators and, with the exception of NSW, now also lead their regional counterparts in terms of business confidence in every state and territory,” said Mr Allan.
There was a reversal in confidence in South Australia and Western Australia, with businesses in Adelaide (up 33 points) and Perth (up 23 points) now more confident than those in regional areas in those states. The opposite was true in NSW, with regional businesses there the most confident of any regional area in the nation (+58) and also slightly ahead of SMBs in Sydney (+56).
Positive sector results
The sector results were mostly positive, with health and community Services; hospitality; and finance and insurance now sharing top spot, each on +58.
“While most sectors are feeling confident, manufacturers saw weak sales and demand, while retailers continue to worry about business conditions. These two industries are the least confident and are reporting more challenges than the other sectors,” said Mr Allan.
Taken before the federal election, the survey found that businesses’ perceptions of the federal government in the lead up to the election were mixed, with 21 per cent supporting the policies of the coalition government and 19 per cent opposed, while the majority remained indifferent.
In terms of the perceptions of state and territory governments, only the New South Wales government now has a positive rating, with all except for the NSW and NT governments going backwards this quarter.
The Sensis Business Index uses a net balance score which is the difference between the percentage of businesses with a positive outlook versus the percentage of businesses with a negative outlook.
Small SMBs comprise 99 per cent of all businesses operating in Australia.
The full report and video summarising the report as well as infographics can be found at www.sensis.com.au/SBI.
Sign up to C&I’s free bi-weekly newsletter here to receive the latest industry news every Tuesday and Thursday. Follow C&I on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.