Worcester Business Journal

Worcester Business Journal www.wbjournal.com 2 016 Economic Forecast 7 What do you expect housing prices to do next year? What is your estimate for your company's revenue performance for 2016 compared to 2015? What is your estimate for your company's bottom line (net income/profit) for 2016 compared to 2015? What's the biggest impediment to business growth in Massachusetts? e general optimism about the housing market remained nearly identical for the second straight year, aer the big increase in 2013 when business leaders thought it was finally time for the market to accelerate out of its malaise from the Great Recession. Optimism is always high for increased company revenues, although that outlook fell off ever so slightly this year. Just like the top line, optimism is strong for the bottom line as well, although that, too, leveled off this year. Taxes and cost of living, as always, remained top of mind for business leaders, but healthcare costs took a leap this year, as 22 percent see them as a major impediment to companies. 2016 Note: Numbers for some questions may not add up to 100 due to rounding. 2014 2013 2012 2015 2014 2013 2015 2014 2013 2015 2013 2015 Increase 50% Decrease 3% Flat 47% 2014 Increase more than 20% ........5% Increase 11-20% ..................... 12% Increase 1-10% ....................... 63% Decrease 1-10% ........................7% Decrease 11-20% ..................... 1% Decrease more than 20% ..... 0% No growth ............................... 12% Increase more than 20% ........7% Increase 11-20% ..................... 10% Increase 1-10% ....................... 56% Decrease 1-10% ........................5% Decrease 11-20% ..................... 4% Decrease more than 20% ..... 1% No growth ............................... 17% Increase 44% Decrease 4% Flat 52% Increase 62% Decrease 4% Flat 34% Flat 47% Increase 49% Decrease 4% Increase more than 20% ........5% Increase 11-20% ..................... 12% Increase 1-10% ....................... 63% Decrease 1-10% ........................7% Decrease 11-20% ..................... 1% Decrease more than 20% ..... 0% No growth ............................... 12% Increase more than 20% ........8% Increase 11-20% ..................... 17% Increase 1-10% ....................... 53% Decrease 1-10% ........................4% Decrease 11-20% ..................... 4% Decrease more than 20% ..... 1% No growth ............................... 14% Increase more than 20% ........5% Increase 11-20% ..................... 17% Increase 1-10% ....................... 56% Decrease 1-10% ........................9% Decrease 11-20% ..................... 3% Decrease more than 20% ..... 0% No growth ............................... 11% Increase more than 20% ........9% Increase 11-20% ........................9% Increase 1-10% ....................... 60% Decrease 1-10% ........................5% Decrease 11-20% ..................... 1% Decrease more than 20% ..... 3% No growth ............................... 14% High taxes 22% High cost of living 23% Other 20% High health care costs 17% Slow regulatory process 14% High energy costs 5% High taxes 25% High cost of living 30% Other 18% High health care costs 11% Slow regulatory process High energy costs 5% 11% Other 19% High taxes 23% High cost of living 28% 1% High energy costs Slow regulatory process 8% High health care costs 22%

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