Optimism on a knife-edge
Page 10
Page 11
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Optimism is a precious commodity and it took a knock in January. A total of 70% said they were either very optimistic or fairly optimistic (down from 75% in December and the September all-time high of 81%), while 28% were either not very optimistic or not at all optimistic, thus generating an optimism index score of +42 – better than November’s +40, but short of the scores otherwise achieved since August.
Further illustration of the optimism knock-back can be seen by comparing the month-on-month thoughts of the most positive operators: 97% of logistics and contract distribution irms were optimistic in December, but in January the igure slipped to 85%; and fully 100% of those with 51 vehicles or more were optimistic in December, but in January that igure dropped to 80%.
The percentage of operators reporting their business has already recovered from the recession also fell to a 12-month low of 33%. A further 29% expect to recover within the next 12 months.