Area businesses wrapped a positive 2015 and remain optimistic about 2016, according to the results of Mercer University’s Year-End Middle Georgia Economic Outlook Survey.

The survey was conducted by the BB&T Center for Undergraduate Research in Public Policy and Capitalism in Mercer’s Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics, in partnership with the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce, Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce, Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce, Roberta-Crawford County Chamber of Commerce and Wilkinson County Chamber of Commerce.

The BB&T Center and the partner chambers received responses to their electronic survey from more than 200 individuals. Dr. Antonio Saravia, assistant professor of economics and director of the BB&T Center, compiled the results, which can be viewed by clicking here. 

“In general terms, businesses in Middle Georgia seemed to have wrapped a positive 2015 and are optimistic about the first half of 2016,” said Dr. Saravia. “Despite the positive outlook, however, most businesses do not see the next period as a good time to expand their operations. Respondents continue to identify the quality of labor, government regulations and taxes as the top obstacles to their business activities.”

Respondents represented considerable variety in terms of company size, geography and industry. Most were small businesses under 10 employees, which accounted for 40 percent of the total number of respondents. The majority had principal offices located in Bibb (52 percent) and Houston (23 percent) counties. Respondents represented a wide range of industries, led by retail trade (16 percent) and professional and technical services (16 percent).

The BB&T Center for Undergraduate Research in Public Policy and Capitalism conducts the survey and publishes its results two times per year.

For more information, contact Dr. Saravia at (478) 301-5541 or [email protected].