Today’s release of the fourth in the bi-annual Gympie Regional Business Confidence Survey shows that even though business conditions in Gympie remain challenging, Gympie businesses are more optimistic about the future than businesses across the rest of Queensland.

Driven from the Gympie Regional Council’s Economic Development Office, this online anonymous survey asks businesses about their local trading conditions.

Over 200 businesses participated in the survey assisting Council to gain an understanding of how businesses were faring in the current economic climate.

Gympie Regional Council Mayor, Cr Ron Dyne said, “Council is strongly committed to working with existing and intending businesses to help facilitate economic development in the Region.”

“This Business Confidence Survey is an important part of the overall strategy.”

“We need accurate and timely information about business conditions along with ideas direct from the business community about ways to further assist our broad economic base,” said Mayor Dyne.

AEC Group Economic Analyst Michael Campbell said the latest results from the survey show that Gympie businesses are experiencing tough times, however, he adds that this is no different than many other Regions in Queensland at the moment.  

“Those businesses reporting weaker results over the most recent period have actually increased from the previous survey, from 46% to 60%,” he said.

“The high Australian dollar also makes life difficult for manufacturers by making their exported products more expensive and competing imported products cheaper.”

When looking forward into the next six months, Mr Campbell added that the Region’s optimism was still higher than state-wide figures.  “Gympie businesses seem pretty upbeat about the future, with 36% of businesses expecting stronger trading levels over the next six months, comparing favourably to the most recent CCIQ Pulse Survey which showed that only 28% of businesses state wide expect conditions to improve.”

Mayor Dyne said, “Whilst the figures may not point to an overly buoyant business community, Council appreciates the full and frank responses and the insight provided.   Gympie is not immune to impacts felt by the Australian economy, however, we do seem to weather those impacts a little better.”

“A positive result from the survey indicates that high levels of businesses deal locally, both purchasing from local businesses and selling to local customers.  This may go some way towards understanding the resilience in our local economy.”

“Our Economic Development Office has been working alongside many of the local businesses and partnered with the State Government to provide workshops to assist businesses through the re-evaluation process including identifying improvements”,  said Mayor Dyne.

The survey results have been emailed to subscribers and major business groups and can also be accessed from our boardroom business webpage here.