The Associated Industries of Massachusetts Business Confidence Index lost 1.4 points in August, falling to 56.2.
The August number is just below its level of 57.1 a year ago.
AIM said the manufacturing sector accounts for much of the index’s August decline.
On the Index’s 100-point scale, a reading above 50 indicates that the state’s employers are predominately optimistic, while a reading below 50 indicates a negative assessment of business conditions. The monthly index was initiated by AIM in 1991 and is based on a survey of AIM member companies.
