UPDATE: Retailers lead the way in Christmas confidence

| September 7, 2010
Baubles: photo courtesy of Gordon McClean's Flickr Photostream

Baubles: photo courtesy of Gordon McClean's Flickr PhotostreamSeptember 2010: Australia’s executives are tipping strong growth in the lead up to Christmas, but remain cautious about bringing on new staff.

The latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations survey reveals improvement in 5 out of 6 key indicators of business strength.

Executives are confident of growth in sales, profits, inventories, capital investment and selling prices during the December quarter.

Capital investment expectations hit the highest level in 7 years, while the profits index reached its highest point in 6 years.

Retailers delivered the strongest profit growth expectations while non-durable manufacturers recorded the lowest earnings expectations.

But despite the growing overall confidence hiring intentions remain soft. 

The survey of thousands of business owners and executives found interest rates will be the primary influence on business operations in the December quarter, but this concern has eased slightly on a month earlier.

To view the full survey results visit Dun & Bradstreet

 

 

By Virginia Harrison, Editor First 5000

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