AVON, CONNECTICUT, USA (February 8, 2012) – The latest results of Eastbridge Consulting Group�s Voluntary Industry Confidence Index survey are positive.
The overall Confidence Index increased to 99.7, up from 98.4 in the mid-year survey.
Two of the three components that make up the index improved this time. The index is calculated using three key expectation measures about the voluntary industry:
- Sales growth
- Profitability of the industry
- Employee enthusiasm about voluntary products
Feelings about the profitability of the industry rebounded the most,” says Gil Lowerre, president of Eastbridge. The percentage expecting lower profitability declined to just eight percent (down from 18 percent last time) and the percentage expecting increased profitability was up to 54 percent. “The percentage expecting sales growth for 2012 also improved nicely, with 95 percent expecting more sales,” adds Lowerre.
“The only measure that showed a decrease was employee enthusiasm about voluntary products,” says Bonnie Brazzell, vice president, Eastbridge. “The mean was down from 3.82 to 3.80 primarily because more people said there would be “no change” in employee enthusiasm,” explains Brazzell.
The Voluntary Industry Confidence Index study is conducted semi-annually and includes responses from individuals active in the market�carriers, brokers, and vendors. Like other confidence indices, the index is a single number that compares the current results to a baseline measure. The first Confidence Index survey was completed in December of 2005; the results from that survey serve as the “base” year (meaning the index was at 100 for that year).
The Voluntary Industry Confidence Index report is available only to Eastbridge Information Partner companies as well as to participants. The survey will be conducted again in July 2012. For more information on becoming a participant, contact the company at www.eastbridge.com.
About Eastbridge Consulting Group, Inc.
Eastbridge Consulting Group, Inc. is the leading marketing advisory firm serving the worksite/voluntary industry. For more information about Eastbridge visit www.eastbridge.com.
