BOUNCE IN BUSINESS CONFIDENCE DESPITE COST CRUNCH

An ancient role - a blessing or a curse for Lusine?

Title: Lusine’s Blessing

Author: Will Spokes

Price: $22.95

Publisher: Shawline

Publishing

By Samantha Elley e relationship between a young girl and her grandmother can be very special. is is de nitely the case with Lusine and her Grandma Rose, but there is a deeper level not experienced by others.

By all accounts Lusine is a normal young girl, growing up in Melbourne, but she comes from a family line of Magi, members of a priestly caste of ancient Persia.

As Lusine comes to understand more, her Grandma Rose starts to teach her the ways of a

The State’s peak body for business, Business NSW, released their Quarterly Business Conditions Survey Report today.

Businesses have recorded their highest levels of confdence in nearly two years, but remain concerned about cash strapped customers, insurance and energy costs.

The gradual rise in business outlook has been cautiously welcomed by Business NSW with business confdence levels coming off an historically low base.

“The increase in business confdence to its highest level in nearly two years has largely been driven by interest rates remaining on hold,” said Jane Laverty, Northern Rivers Regional Director for Business NSW.

“With every interest rate rise, small to medium businesses

Magus, hoping that the young girl will follow in her footsteps.

But evil is afoot, from a cast out family member who wants to be the next in line for the role of Magus.

When a sad event happens in Lusine’s world, she realises she must take on the role her grandmother was training her for, earlier than she anticipated. Lusine will need to face up to the evil coming her way.

Author Will Spokes lives on the Mornington Peninsula where he loves boating, sailing, shing and ying. He has served for many years as Principal Race O cer at several yacht clubs and has worked in marketing for a number of Melbourne’s leading radio stations.

You can order a copy of Lusine’s Blessing from www.shawlinepublishing.com.au experience an almost immediate reduction in customers walking through the door. This increase in business confdence is a positive sign.”

When it comes to their customers, 95% of businesses are experiencing some impact of the rising cost of living.

“The most common experience is reduced customer demand for their products and services,” Mrs Laverty said.

“A majority of businesses have observed consumer behavioural changes in the form of reduced frequency of purchases, reduced quantity per order, increased appetite for lower cost substitutes and increased price negotiation.”

“This means businesses are doing another pivot in their business lifecycle to meet this change.” Insurance is again the top of the list of cost concerns for businesses, while taxes/levies are second and energy costs third.

“It remains vitally important that our state and federal governments make the cost of doing business the number one, two and three issues on their agenda.

“To improve the ease of doing business, survey respondents consider taxes, levies and government charges as the area that requires top priority attention from government.”

Key fndings from the survey of more than 1100 businesses include:

• The Business Confdence Index has risen for the third straight quarter to -52.9, the highest reading in nearly two years.

• 95% of businesses are experiencing some impact of the rising cost of living.

• More than half (51%) of NSW businesses have reported business supply chain disruptions in the past three months.

• 10% of businesses observed more job applicants as a result of cost-of-living pressures.

• 92% of businesses have identifed issues related to attracting and retaining skilled workers in their region.

• 17% of businesses are planning to hire additional staff in the next three months, while 18% are planning to cut staff. The rest are planning to maintain the same headcount

“Northern Rivers businesses are looking ahead to the next quarter with considerably higher levels of confdence and that is pleasing for our regional economy and the community at large. That confdence will also be buoyed by locals continuing to spend in the region frst.” Mrs Laverty said.