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For Immediate Release
May 1, 2006
Contact: Diana McNally
(802) 865-0410
Vermont Business Roundtable Releases Second
Quarter, 2006
CEO Economic Outlook
Survey Results
Business
executives are optimistic about capital expenditures
South
Burlington, VT – Results
from the Vermont Business Roundtable's Second Quarter, 2006 CEO Economic
Outlook Survey, show that business executives are expecting increases in
capital spending over the coming six months. Sales and employment
levels are expected to remain level with reporting from last quarter.
Jim Daily,
President of Porter Medical Center said, “Porter Hospital
is in the midst of a $16.4 million modernization project with the first phase
due to be complete in November of this year. Over the next several months,
we will be acquiring the new equipment and furnishings for our new North Wing
per our plans, which will result in a new Birthing Center and Department of
Surgery."
Conducted in
the month of April, the Roundtable's CEO Economic Outlook Survey enjoyed a high
response rate with 68% of the membership responding. The key findings of the
survey include the following details:
78%
of responding CEOs expect an increase in consumer sales, 22% see no
change, and 0% anticipates a decrease. [First Quarter Results: Increase
78%, No Change 20%, Decrease 2%]
53%
expect capital spending to increase in the next six months, 40% see no
change, and 7% anticipate a decrease. [First Quarter Results: Increase
45%, No Change 45%, Decrease 10%]
50%
expect employment to increase, 45% see no change, and 5% anticipate a
decrease. [First Quarter Results: Increase 54%, No Change 39%, Decrease
7%]
According to Roundtable President Lisa Ventriss,
“The increased investments from within the Roundtable's
membership over the coming 6 months will occur in the area of capital
expenditures. In part, this is explained by continuing challenges from
inadequate workforce capacity, so companies are investing in their physical
plants and infrastructure to maintain productivity.
-###-
The
Roundtable is composed of 115 CEOs of Vermont's
top private and nonprofit employers
dedicated
to making Vermont the best place in America
to do business, be educated, and live life.
Member
businesses employ over 49,000 employees in virtually every county across Vermont.