BOSTON–Business sentiment across Massachusetts improved in November, reversing a months-long decline as employers grew more assured about the resilience of the state and national economy.
The Massachusetts Business Confidence Index climbed 2.0 points to 48.5, according to an announcement from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), which compiles the monthly index.
The uptick marks the first increase since September and offers a modest sign of stabilization for employers who have spent much of the year navigating concerns ranging from persistent inflation to tariff uncertainties.
The index—based on a survey of more than 140 Massachusetts employers—uses a 100-point scale, where readings above 50 indicate optimism and those below 50 indicate pessimism.
Despite November’s improvement, confidence remains well below the post-election high of 57.7 recorded in November 2024, a period when businesses were largely upbeat about the coming year. The mood shifted dramatically by March, when uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s initial threat to impose broad tariff increases pushed confidence to a five-year low.
While the index has not yet crossed back into optimistic territory, the latest figures suggest that business leaders are slowly regaining confidence—an encouraging sign for the state’s economic trajectory.
