The Manufacturing Confidence Index shows a positive trend by going from 54.7% in the third quarter of 2013 to 57.6%. The same trend was reflected in the Business Confidence Index that went from 48.2% to 53.4%. Nonetheless, according to a report in Hoy, manufacturing sector leaders say that persisting restrictions are affecting production and business. This includes the low level of economic activity (spending), the tax burdens, and the high electricity costs and problems with supply. They also mention the price of fuel, unfair competition, and contraband, the cost of raw materials, imports and labor.
The results were published in the Manufacturing Circumstances Survey covering the fourth quarter of 2013 and conducted by the Dominican Republic Association of Industries (AIRD).
The report quotes the polled manufacturers as saying that confidence was improving, especially perceptions of investment climate. While there was some positive news in the survey, there were also some not-so-positive perceptions in reference to the international situation and the behavior of the Dominican economy, both with negative numbers.