For the first time in a year, the Business Confidence Index from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts fell into negative territory.
The index fell 1.3 points to 49.2, its lowest reading since September 2010.
Officials with AIM said the results are an “unmistakable sign of weakness in the job market.”
The index fell from a high of 56.1 in April and is down from 50.5 in August. But it’s up compared to a reading of 47.7 during the same month last year.
The future index – which measures business leaders’ confidence about future economic conditions – also fell into negative territory, falling 2.5 points to 48.4. Conditions in Massachusetts also fell 2.4 points to 44.1, but remain above the national confidence level of 37.2.
The index is based on a survey of business leaders with a 100 being the highest score and 0 the lowest.
