Regus Business Confidence Index

Global business optimism, having undergone a slight decline in 2010, has now surged ahead, according to the latest half-yearly Regus Business Confidence Index.

This regular global survey shows a significant increase in the proportion of firms reporting a rise in revenues and profits, as well as a growing alignment between future outlook and actual results, with real revenues coming into alignment with previous surveys’ predictions.

The survey also reports departmental spending mainly on the rise, showing that companies are keen to invest in catching the wave of economic recovery. However, there is one notable exception to this trend – property costs. Having been caught out by inflexible commercial property arrangements during the recent economic downturn, firms remain committed to scrutinising and, where possible, reducing fixed premises costs in favour of more flexible workspace solutions that can easily scale as growth is achieved. This reflects previous Regus surveys which have shown a trend away from fixed office working towards more flexible working practices.