Michiana Benchmark Business Index Continued to Increase in Third Quarter

DOWNLOAD PDF: Q3 2021 Michiana Benchmark Business Index by Kruggel Lawton

The third quarter 2021 Michiana Benchmark Business Index, compiled by the certified public accounting and consulting firm of Kruggel Lawton CPAs, rose again to another record high level. The third quarter Benchmark Index was 78.72 out of a maximum possible score of 100, an increase of 8% from the prior quarter results. This follows Benchmark Index increases of 21% and 10% in preceding two quarters.

Kruggel Lawton launched this survey after the 4^th quarter of 2010, in the wake of the Great Recession.  This is a confidential quarterly survey of CFOs in for-profit companies in the South Bend/Elkhart and southwest Michigan region.  The survey tracks changes in companies’ revenue, profitability, and employment levels compared to the same quarter in the prior year, along with CFOs’ optimism about the business outlook for their companies.  Participating CFOs’ input on these four metrics is combined into the overall Benchmark Business Index to provide a barometer of the regional business climate.  Noteworthy third quarter results include:

• The Revenue and Profitability metrics decreased by 9% and 2% respectively from the 2nd quarter survey
• The Employment metric increased 36% from the second quarter
• CFO Optimism increased 12% from the prior quarter to 89.29 out of a maximum of 100

“The third quarter survey results continue to indicate a robust and apparently strengthening business environment in our region at this time,” said Terry Bush, a director at Kruggel Lawton CPAs. “Without question, supply chain challenges and shortages of available employees are concerns for many companies. However, CFOs’ optimism in their companies’ outlook does not appear to be adversely affected by these headwinds.”

Overall Results through 3rd Quarter 2021

Detailed Results Since Inception of Survey

If you are a CFO in a for-profit company in the South Bend region and would like to participate in this survey, please contact Terry Bush at tbush@klcpas.com or call 574-289-4011, ext. 205.

DOWNLOAD PDF: Q3 2021 Michiana Benchmark Business Index by Kruggel Lawton