A monthly survey of business confidence in Massachusetts is steady after falling for two months.
Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) said Tuesday its monthly Business Confidence Index added a half point in July to stand at 50.5 on a scale of 100. The index dropped 1.7 points in June and 4.4 points in May.
The group’s Company Index found respondents more confident about their own operations. That index was up 1.1 points to 56.1.
The chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisers, Raymond Torto, said the overall neutral rating is more evidence of a "lackluster economy" and uncertainty over the national debt.
The July index rose two points from July 2010 and about 10 points over the last two years. Torto said confidence improved from March 2009 to June 2010 and has "bumped along" since then.
The survey was conducted before Standard & Poor’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating last week. (AP)





