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Report: Mass. Business Confidence At Best Level Since 2007

With an uptick in April, a monthly gauge of business confidence in the state is at its highest level since 2007.

The Associated Industries of Massachusetts' Business Confidence Index increased 2.3 points in April to an overall figure of 57.1.

“This is the Index’s best reading since August 2007, before the recession,” Raymond Torto, chair of AIM's Board of Economic Advisors, said in a press release.

Any index reading above 50 is considered positive.

April's 2.3-point increase followed a 0.1-point decrease in March. The index has risen more than 10 points since October 2011, but is just 1 point higher than April 2011's reading.

André Mayer, an AIM vice president, told our Newscast unit that Massachusetts is doing well, compared to the rest of the country, "but, we really need the nation to grow faster for us to grow faster."

Additionally, Mayer noted, many Massachusetts companies still have some underlying uncertainty about their own operations.

"Employers, while they feel the economy is better, are less confident about their own companies, about where they stand," Mayer told Newscast. He said that large employers in Massachusetts reported more confidence than small companies.

This program aired on May 1, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.

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Benjamin Swasey Digital Manager
Ben is WBUR's digital news manager.

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