Survey: Business Leaders Project Modest Economic Growth for Michigan, U.S.

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The latest quarterly survey from the Business Leaders for Michigan forecasts modest economic growth in Michigan and the U.S. over the next six to 18 months.

“Michigan’s largest job providers believe that both the Michigan and U.S. economies will continue to experience 2 percent to 3 percent growth over the next year or so, but are more optimistic about Michigan,” says Doug Rothwell, president and CEO of Lansing-based Business Leaders for Michigan.

The survey found 76 percent of business leaders believed the Michigan economy will remain steady over the next six months, and 17 percent believe there will be modest growth. Nearly 70 percent of business leaders believed the U.S. economy will remain the same, and seven percent projected there will be modest growth. This was slightly lower than the January 2016 survey.

Rothwell says in the next 18 months, 18 percent of business leaders believed the state economy will improve, 18 percent forecasted a decline, and 64 percent predicted it will remain consistent. Less than half of the business leaders surveyed predicted the U.S. economy will remain about the same over the next 18 months, and 40 percent believed it will get worse.

The survey also found more than half of the business leaders projected their companies will add jobs in the next six months, and about one-third plan to make capital investments in Michigan.

Combined, Business Leaders of Michigan member companies account for one-third of the state’s economy and educate close to 50 percent of the state’s university students. Members are comprised of chairpersons, CEOs, and senior executives of Michigan’s largest companies and universities.