ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Is this sluggish economy ever going to get back to normal? A recent survey of Sangamon County employers doesn’t hold out much hope, though the employers seemed optimistic about their own situations. Conducted by the Center for State Policy and Leadership at University of Illinois Springfi eld for the Greater Springfi eld Chamber of Commerce, the survey asked 174 employers what they expected from the economy over the next 12 months. The results show a slight improvement in outlook from six months ago, with expectations of stability in the medical, fi nancial and communications sectors. More than 71 percent of employers projected employment opportunities to stay the same or grow in the coming year, but more than 80 percent also expect the state’s fi scal health to negatively affect them. Surprisingly, only about 22 percent of respondents felt the state of Springfi eld’s transportation infrastructure would have a negative effect on the local economy. The same survey in the fall of 2012 showed only about 18 percent of respondents were optimistic about Sangamon County’s economy, but 33 percent said they expect a small increase in the economy for the Spring 2013 survey. Maybe if we all act like the economy is better, it will have no choice but to improve.