Alaskans are feeling more optimism about the state’s economy, according to the results of a new survey conducted on behalf of the Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development.
The new edition of the quarterly Alaska Confidence Index report showed a rise of 5 points between the first and second quarters of 2018. The index now stands at 57.
Scores above 50 points represent relative confidence, while scores below 50 represent a lack of confidence.
Since 2014, the index reached a high point above 60 points in the third quarter of 2014; it bottomed out below 50 in the first and second quarters of 2016. The index is compiled by Northern Economics Inc. using data collected by the Alaska Survey, a quarterly sample of 1,000 Alaska Households taken by Alaska Survey Research (formerly Ivan Moore Research) since 2010.
Details of the index show Alaskans are very confident about their personal finances, but they’re much less confident about their local economy and the state economy. The survey showed Alaskans’ confidence about their personal situation merited a score of 67, into what the index labels “blue sky” territory.
Their confidence about the local economy averaged a 54, and their confidence about the state economy was only 51.
Alaskans were generally more pessimistic about the future; their confidence scores for the future of their personal finances, local finances and the state economy were all lower than their confidence about the present state of those things.
• Contact reporter James Brooks at jbrooks@juneauempire.com or 523-2258.
