Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | June 24, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 15 B2B EI243116136.0 5/24 © 2024 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 24-3077897-D 1 Actual savings may vary depending upon plan design, network configuration, contracting and utilization. UnitedHealth Network Access internal analysis. Sept. 1, 2023. Members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare NexusACO products are not limited to Atrius Health and Reliant Medical Group providers. To view a full listing of network providers, use the "Find a Doctor" feature on uhc.com. Tier 1 providers may be subject to change, visit myuhc.com® for the most current information or call the number on your health plan ID card. Insurance coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates. Working together for Massachusetts UnitedHealthcare, Atrius Health and Reliant Medical Group are working together along with other local medical providers to deliver a group health plan designed to provide a simpler experience and cost-effective care for Massachusetts companies. With the UnitedHealthcare NexusACO® plan, employees can save on out-of-pocket costs by choosing Atrius Health and Reliant Medical Group, as well as other Tier 1 providers designated for quality and efficiency. Employers can save too, with rates up to 12% 1 lower than our traditional plans. uhc.com/nexus Including these and others: M I DY E A R E C O N O M I C F O R E C AS T F O C U S Connecting all offices: 1.800.578.4270 www.unibank.com Member FDIC · NMLS #583135 1 Homeowners insurance required. Subject to credit approval. Other terms, fees, and conditions may apply. Conventional · Jumbo · Refinance · Construction UniBank mortgages 1 are funded locally. Decisions are made locally. Our lenders will put their expertise to work for you and help you to find the right fixed or adjustable rate mortgage for your unique needs. Get started today! Contact your local UniBank branch or view rates and apply online today! Bank LOCAL. Borrow LOCAL. sion, where consumers feel the econo- my is floundering, despite stats saying otherwise. "Not all consumers understand the difference between inflation and price level. So to their mind, when economists say, 'Oh, inflation is coming down,' they kind of expect the prices of milk or gas will go back to pre-pandemic levels," said Staveley-O'Carroll. "is is defi- nitely not the case, almost never do we experience deflation." Even if the lack of consumer con- fidence in the economy isn't entirely based on statistics, that still could have an impact on the region's economy, said Nascimento. "It's on the consumer side, those are the ones that are feeling that state of inflation, with groceries, housing, and energy costs being up," he said. "Con- sumers are a big part of the economy as well. So if they start to cut back that could hurt our economy here in North Central and the rest of the state." Prices for basic necessities in the Cen- tral Massachusetts region are seemingly beginning to stabilize, said Rosero. "Inflation is no longer [problem] num- ber one, but it still hasn't gone away," he said. "We send our interns every April on a tour, to local stores, doctors offices, etc., to price out different things. We are start- ing to see a bit of a cooldown in prices. It's probably too early to tell, and it's only one data point; but it does seem to be in line with [other statistics]." The bottom line While some consumers may remain skeptical about the health of the econo- my, MetroWest businesses are beginning to be more optimistic; MERC survey data shows 59% of businesses feel the economy is the same as last year, while 27% feel it is better. "ere's a high degree of this signifi- cant disconnect between how we're do- ing and how people think we're doing in terms of the economy," said Rosero. "But it was a little bit refreshing to see that employers at least, you know, they're not negative about it. ey're seeing that bottom line." Despite mixed economic signals, Staveley-O'Carroll sees a lot of things to be positive about. "e economy has proven dramati- cally resilient," she said. "Unemployment rate has remained near-historic lows, GDP growth continuously surprises forecasters and analysts. It slowed down a bit this year, but you know, it's still positive for us." W

• Cover