(Des Moines, IA) -- The Iowa Business Council (IBC) says it's third quarter Economic Outlook survey for 2020 shows overall optimism among business leaders. Spokesman Joe Murphy says half of their members expect sales to increase over the next month, and nearly half expect more capital expenditures. He says hiring expectations are also solid according the survey.
Murphy says the pandemic is still having a significant impact on the state's economy, employers are finding ways to cope with best practices.
The survey's overall economic outlook index rose to nearly 59, increasing 17-points from the second quarter survey. It's the first time the index has been above 50 since the fourth quarter of 2019.