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The business climate in Lee County increased in the first quarter of 2017 over the last quarter of 2016, yet remains somewhat mired in mediocrity.
The Executive Business Climate Index, on a scale of 0 to 100, was a 68 in the most recent quarter, according to the Lee County Business Climate Survey Report. The Horizon Council and the Regional Economic Research Institute at Florida Gulf Coast University publish the quarterly report, based on a survey sent to more than 500 Lee County executives and business owners. The index is up five points from the fourth quarter of last year and seven points from the third quarter. But “despite the increase, the index remains below a 73-to-69 band that persisted for two years until the first quarter of 2016,” the report states.
The index stems from questions about current and future economic conditions and projections. It reached 73 in the second quarter of 2015.
The survey contained several other nuggets, including:
Nearly half the respondents, 49%, have increased employment over the past year;
Nearly two-thirds of respondents, 63%, expect to increase investment in their companies;
Almost half, 48%, of executives believe their operating environment will be better in 2017 than in 2016, while 11% believe it will get worse.
More than six out of 10, 64%, expect the actions of President Donald Trump to make their company better off, while 7% believe it will make their company worse off.
At least half the respondents, 56%, say President Barack Obama did not have a big achievement during his tenure as president, while 22% say economic recovery from the recession was his biggest achievement.
Seven out of 10, 72%, of respondents expect President Trump to significantly dismantle President Obama's legacy, and 64% believe that would be a good thing.
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