Business leaders in the Birmingham-Hoover metro area are forecasting growth, according to the first quarter survey results of the Alabama Business Confidence Index (ABCI).

The survey, administered by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, showed Birmingham-Hoover business leaders are continuing to forecast improved economic activity with moderately strong confidence. The metro’s ABCI registered at 57.5 for the first quarter of 2021, a 2.2-point increase from the fourth quarter of 2020.

The metro’s confidence is slightly higher than business leaders’ confidence across the state of Alabama, which registered at 56.1.

This is the second consecutive quarter of positive business sentiment in the metro area after a mildly negative ABCI in the third quarter of 2020, likely related to concerns from the pandemic. Prior to COVID-19, Birmingham-Hoover’s ABCI had registered as either neutral or positive for 30 quarters.

As the second quarter of 2021 begins, Birmingham-Hoover business leaders are most confident about industry hiring, capital expenditures and sales, survey results show.

The second quarter ABCI survey will be available from March 1 to 15. For more information, click here.