Area Business Leaders Increasingly Optimistic

Ventura County business leaders have turned optimistic about the economy.

Nearly 60% of those responding to Ventura County National Bank’s semiannual survey said they expect their sales to increase during 1993. In June, only 40% predicted an upturn.

The survey, which drew 573 responses, found that the county’s larger companies are weathering the recession better than smaller ones. In companies with more than 100 employees, 52% of those responding said sales increased last year. Only 38% of the firms with less than 10 employees reported increases.

Last year, a majority of business people in only two cities--Camarillo and Thousand Oaks--reported increased revenues. In Ojai, respondents were equally divided. In the rest of the county, business was down.