Vermont Business Roundtable survey indicates economic forecast is ‘steady’ for next six months
1. How do you expect your company’s sales to change in the next six months? SalesINCREASENO CHANGEDECREASEQ1 200483%13%4%Q2 200480%15%4%Q3 200471%25%4%Q4 200477%22%1%Q1 200578%19%3%Q2 200575%23%2%Q3 200574%24%2%Q4 200572%24%4%Q1 200678%20%2%Q2 200678%22%0%Q3 200669%25%6%Q4 200673%23%4%Q3 200851%35%14%Q4 200827%46%27%Q1 200933%30%37%Q2 200941%31%28%Q3 200934%49%17%Q1 201063%19%18%Q2 201069%24%7%Q3 201059%35%6%Q4 201071%23%6%Q1 201173%19%8%% change from Q4/10 to Q1/112%-4%2%Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding. 2. How do you expect your company’s capital spending to change in the next six months? 3. How do you expect your company’s employment to change in the next six months? The chief executives of Vermont’s leading businesses appear poised to hold steady for the spring and summer months of 2011, when compared against the previous survey period. The survey was completed between April 1 and April 15 and released today by Vermont Business Roundtable Chair Steve Voigt, CEO, King Arthur Flour and President Lisa Ventriss.According to Roundtable President, Lisa Ventriss, ‘Overall, these data show an economy that is taking its breath and assuming a ‘wait and see’ posture. The most positive growth indicator continues to be our members’ sales forecasts which showed a slight uptick over the previous period (73 percent compared to 71 percent). And while a plurality of our members are forecasting growth outlooks for capital expenditures and employment levels, (47 percent and 44 percent, respectively), another segment of members is projecting no change in those indicators from the previous quarter (38 percent and 41 percent, respectively),Ventriss said.Chair Steve Voigt said ‘We believe that these data also reflect a hesitation among our CEOs that is related to the current debate around health care reform in Vermont and the nation. We polled our members on this topic and found it to be a major source of concern; there are still many cost-related reform questions yet to be answered, and this makes future investment decisions regarding people or plant difficult to make at best. We must remember that while growth indicators have been trending upward nicely since early 2009, these changes are still fragile.’The Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Survey provides a forward-looking view of the economic assumptions and attitudes of chief executive officers for 120 of the state’s top employers with an aggregate economic impact of $135 billion and employing 15 percent of the state’s workforce. The members represent Vermont’s agriculture, construction, education, health services, finance, real estate, insurance, hospitality/leisure, manufacturing, information, utilities, professional/business services, wholesale trade, and non-profit industries. The response rate for this quarter was 58 percent. Historically, rates have varied from 35 to 73 percent. 
EmploymentINCREASENO CHANGEDECREASEQ1 200457%38%4%Q2 200450%48%2%Q3 200459%37%4%Q4 200458%39%3%Q1 200555%38%7%Q2 200549%42%9%Q3 200549%44%7%Q4 200560%35%5%Q1 200654%39%7%Q2 200650%45%5%Q3 200643%49%7%Q4 200653%41%5%Q3 200840%42%18%Q4 200825%35%40%Q1 200923%37%40%Q2 200921%50%29%Q3 200934%46%20%Q1 201040%52%8%Q2 201046%45%9%Q3 201035%52%13%Q4 201051%38%11%Q1 201144%41%15%% Change from Q4/10 to Q1/11-7%3%4%Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding.The Roundtable is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of 120 CEOs of Vermont’s top private and nonprofit employers, representing geographic diversity and all major sectors of the Vermont economy, with an aggregate economic impact of $135 billion and employing 15 percent of the state’s workforce. The Roundtable is committed to sustaining a sound economy and preserving Vermont’s unique quality of life by studying and making recommendations on statewide public policy issues. CapitalINCREASENO CHANGEDECREASEQ1 200462%30%8%Q2 200443%41%15%Q3 200451%42%7%Q4 200445%46%9%Q1 200555%37%8%Q2 200549%43%8%Q3 200557%38%5%Q4 200550%35%15%Q1 200645%45%10%Q2 200653%40%7%Q3 200640%50%10%Q4 200656%39%5%Q3 200838%42%20%Q4 200817 %43%40%Q1 200912%38%50%Q2 200917%51%32%Q3 200931%46%23%Q1 201050%42%8%Q2 201051%38%11%Q3 201037%48%15%Q4 201049%34%17%Q1 201147%38%15%% Change from Q4/10 to Q1/11-2%4%-2%Totals may not equal 100 due to rounding. Source: VBR. 4.18.2011
AshantiGold CEO Kudjoe Fianoo says he is ready to leave the club if the board deems it fit.The National Co-ordinating Council on Monday called for Fianoo’s salary to be cut by 50% and for head coach Bashir Hayford asked to step aside.Fianoo has responded by saying he will do so if the board feel it is time for him to go.“The wrangling’s within the club was there even last season. When the club was not performing well at a point then, these things happened.”“They have been there from the beginning of the season and in our match against Chelsea, the supporters reacted but the loss against Dreams FC at home made the whole issue louder at the end of the match.” “The coach was booed by the supporters and chanting angrily at the coach but with the statement saying that some officials some leave; I don’t have any problem because if the management feels it is time for me to go, I have no problem with that decision.”He also revealed that some officials at the club do their job for the club are only paid with allowance.“We have some officials working for the club and they are only paid with allowance and even with that you are being deducted tax out from that allowance being given to you.”“With my salary,I am being paid half of what the former Chief Executive Officer was taking so I don’t understand why they are calling on me to slash my salary to cut cost because we are all helping the club in our own ways.”Ashantigold lie seventh on the league table with seven points and will play Asokwa United in the MTN FA Cup round of 32 this weekend. –Follow Joy Sports on Twitter: @JoySportsGH. Our hashtag is #JoySports