Despite profit and productivity concerns, Queensland businesses have reported the highest level of economic confidence in more than three years.
Business Chamber Queensland CEO Heidi Cooper said the advocacy group’s latest Pulse Report showed there was stronger general business conditions throughout the State in the March quarter.
“After persistently weak business confidence levels in Queensland for several years, this recent uptick has been attributed to interest rate relief, some levelling of inflation and infrastructure certainty around the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Ms Cooper said.
She said despite this increase in confidence, businesses indicated continually challenging operating conditions, high wage costs, low productivity, and business input costs including energy and persistently weak profitability, risking this economic confidence being realised.
“This risk is compounded with geopolitical pressures, including trade tariffs.”
Ms Cooper said key business measures like sales, revenue and employment levels improved in the March quarter and businesses expected further improvement before the end of the financial year.
“These results are really promising and show businesses are looking to the future of their operations with growing optimism.
“Overall business confidence in the future of both the state and national economies has improved, with the highest levels recorded since the state came out of the COVID economic crisis in 2022.
“Right now, confidence in the Queensland economy is surging further ahead of the national economy.”
Download: Business Chamber Queensland Business Conditions Pulse Report March 2025
