🔒EcoForecast survey: For first time since 2020, WBJ readers say the economy is in worse condition than a year ago

For the first time since 2020, the majority of Central Massachusetts business leaders who responded to WBJ’s annual Economic Forecast survey said the region’s economy is in worse condition than it was at this time the previous year. Despite this overall sentiment, the plurality said they anticipate the local economy will improve in 2026. Compared to previous years, the percentage of those who said the economy will improve slightly or significantly in the next year (44%) is at its lowest point since 2022, but those optimistic about next year outnumber those who say the economy will decline in 2026. The state’s premier business forecast survey, the Business Confidence Index from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, has been firmly in pessimistic territory for the last nine months of 2025, so any level of optimism from WBJ’s readers is outpacing the overall state sentiment. Because of their hesitancy about the economy, the majority of WBJ respondents said next year they aren’t planning on hiring additional staff (62%) and aren’t planning on making a major capital investment (55%). WBJ 2026 Economic Forecast survey was conducted from Dec. 3-17. See the results of the survey in the slideshow below: