Prince George, B.C. – While the Holiday season is closing in and shopping is expected to step it up, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business says the confidence in the BC economy is holding steady.

 

The BC barometer index for November was 67.2  a positive sign as index levels between 65 and 75 indicate a growing economy. According to the CFIB BC is once again above the national confidence level (63.7) and fourth in confidence to Saskatchewan (74.2), Alberta (71.1) and Manitoba (67.4).

 

Most employers do not plan to make changes to full-time employment levels (70 per cent), with only 13 per cent planning to increase full-time employment and 18 per cent planning to decrease employment.

 

More highlights:

·     34 per cent of businesses in BC say the overall state of business is satisfactory, 43 per cent say it is good, and 23 per cent say it is bad.

·     Fuel/energy costs and taxes/regulations are the largest cost concern for businesses with 54 per cent of business owners saying these costs are causing difficulties for their business.

·     42 per cent of BC small businesses say that insufficient domestic demand is their greatest business constraint.