The Indiana University East Business and Economic Research Center (the BERC) of the School of Business and Economics surveyed regional businesses to research the business and economic pulse in East-Central Indiana.

The 2016 East-Central Indiana Business Survey was completed by 105 executives in September 2016. Fayette, Henry and Wayne counties were included to provide an overview of the economic and business climate of the region. Based on the responses from the business executives, the BERC computed the base year score of the IU East Regional Business Confidence Index that will be used to gauge the confidence of East-Central Indiana’s knowledgeable business leaders in the future.

The survey gauges the confidence of East-Central Indiana’s knowledgeable business leaders. It measures the degree of optimism that business owners and managers feel about the prospects for their enterprises in the region, and reflects the perception of these business executives on the state of the regional economy. Survey results show that business owners and managers surveyed anticipate expanding production, business activity, and higher profitability in the region in 2017.

The survey was sent to over 564 business executives in Fayette, Henry and Wayne counties across a wide spectrum of industries including professional services, manufacturing, health care, information technology, retail trade, and banking and financial services. Of the participating businesses surveyed, 63 percent have been in operation in the region for more than 20 years.

The survey report is available on the BERC website at iue.edu/business/berc/.

The IU East School of Business and Economics credited much of the project’s success to the continued support and contribution of the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce, Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, and the New Castle-Henry County Economic Development Corporation.

For more information, contact the Director of the Business and Economic Research Center and Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance Litao (Lee) Zhong, Ph.D., at (765) 973-8289  or the Principal Researcher of the Business and Economic Research Center and Associate Professor of Finance Oi Lin (Irene) Cheung, Ph.D., at (765) 973-8497.