Acquisitions, New Construction Highlights of Iowa Business Leader Survey

March 18, 2019

Mike Ralston, President, ABI
Mike Ralston, President, ABI

Business leaders continue to be confident about Iowa’s economy according to survey results released today by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI).

“Business is booming for Iowa’s companies,” said Mike Ralston, ABI president. “Sales continue to be strong for ABI members.”

A focus on opportunities, rather than on challenges, is what stood out to Ralston when comparing the results to past surveys.

“Surprisingly, not one member mentioned tariffs this time,” said Ralston. “Investing in acquisitions and new construction were highlights.”

ABI quizzed its board members in March 2019. The survey found:

  •  73% of survey respondents expect sales to expand over the next year. 23% expect sales to stay the same.
  • 47% of survey respondents expect the number of employees in their business to grow over Q2. 47% expect the number to stay the same.
  • 87% of survey respondents plan to make capital expenditures in Q2.
  • A shortage of skilled labor continues to be the top concern, as it has been since ABI began surveying business leaders quarterly in 2017.

The survey results may be found at https://bit.ly/2O8b7Wr.