Most of Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance’s members expect production, capital investment and employment to remain unchanged over the course of the next six months. GBRIA says the survey results, published in their recently released Q3 economic outlook survey, reflect “continued confidence in the region’s industrial sector.”
GBRIA comprises more than 80 industrial facilities in and around the Baton Rouge and New Orleans metros. The association’s quarterly economic outlook surveys see plant managers weigh in on what they anticipate the next six months will look like for their operations.
The GBRIA index, a measure of member confidence, currently sits at 57. The index ranges from -50 to 150, with values above 50 indicating expectations for economic expansion and values below 50 indicating expectations for economic contraction.
Respondents identified tariffs, geopolitical tensions, regulatory changes, supply constraints and uncertainty in global markets as the top factors influencing their outlooks.
Among the survey’s notable findings:
- Sixty-six percent of respondents expect no change in production over the course of the next six months. Twenty-three percent expect production to increase, and 11% expect production to decrease.
- Seventy-seven percent of respondents expect no change in capital investment over the course of the next six months. Fourteen percent expect capital investment to increase, and 9% expect capital investment to decrease.
- Seventy-seven percent of respondents expect no change in company employment over the course of the next six months. Eleven percent expect company employment to increase, and 11% expect company employment to decrease.
- Seventy-one percent of respondents expect no change in contract employment over the course of the next six months. Seventeen percent expect contract employment to increase, and 11% expect contract employment to decrease.
