Survey: Residents Say Massachusetts Now Less Appealing than Other States
       Bay State residents and employers are growing increasingly concerned about the state’s economy, according to a pair of surveys released Thursday.
       Residents say the state is on the wrong track, is becoming less
competitive, and for the first time in 10 years, believe Massachusetts is
less appealing than other states. According to the Mass Insight Corporation and Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) surveys,
overall consumer confidence dropped 18 points, from 96 last quarter to 78, and future expectations dropped to their lowest levels in nearly two and a half years.
       Also, while respondents a year ago believed Massachusetts would do better than the national economy over the next decade by a margin of more than two to one; almost as many residents in the latest survey believe the state’s economy will fare worse as believe it will do better. The loss of high-tech jobs and takeovers of formerly Boston-based corporations are also major concerns, according to the survey sponsors.
       Fifty-two percent of respondents say they have cut back on spending because of rising gas prices. In January, residential respondents believed that looking out five years, Massachusetts was generally on the right track by a 51-38 percent margin.
       In April poll, 51 percent indicated the Commonwealth is “off on the wrong track” and only 38 percent continued to believe the state is headed in the right direction. The business confidence index fell 3.4 points in May to 54.8, but remains above 50, the dividing line between a positive and negative outlook.
       The consumer confidence index is based on a phone survey April 29 and May 1 of 500 residents statewide and was conducted by Opinion Dynamics of Cambridge. The business confidence index is based on a survey of AIM members companies.

(State House News Service)