The business confidence index from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts crossed into positive territory in the fourth quarter of 2010.
The index rose from 47.9 to 53.3 between the third and fourth quarters of 2010. A year earlier, in the fourth quarter of 2009, the index sat at 44.6.
The index finished 2010 up 6.7 points from where it began the year. Â
The 100-point index is based on a survey of AIM members, with 50 representing a neutral score.
The current index, which measures the present attitude of business leaders, was up 0.7 points to 51.3 while the future index, which measures sentiments about the coming six months, fell 0.3 points to 53.2.
Despite the positive fourth-quarter results, “most AIM members do not believe economic healing is over,” according to Raymond Torto, chairman of the AIM board of economic advisers.
