Business confidence has risen in the Central West higher than most of the rest of NSW in the past three months.
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The latest Business Conditions Survey by the NSW Business Chamber showed the number of businesses reporting they believed the economy was stronger outweighed the number reporting a weaker economy.
The survey’s June quarter report gave the Central West an index figure of 28 which was only beaten by the Hunter Valley with 33.3.
The figure for Sydney was 20.9 while several regions revealed negative responses suggesting the economy was not performing well across parts of the state.
The Central West was rated “above average” for business confidence over the past 12 months.
Western NSW Business Chamber regional manager Vicki Seccombe said there was growth but help was needed from the state government.
“Locally, Western NSW made solid gains with business confidence growing significantly from the previous quarter,” he said.
“Despite this, persistent cost pressures have appeared to impact profitability and business expansion with respondents indicating lower levels of capital spending.
“It is essential the NSW government continues to deliver reforms that reduce operating costs on business, deliver training that addresses critical skill shortages along with measures that encourage business investment.
“Now is not the time for complacency or caretaker measures.”
The survey also showed the overall unemployment rate and the youth unemployment rate for the Central West were below the state average and they were also better than in Sydney.