New Jersey on second stimulus: Fugetaboutit

The latest quarterly survey was sent to more than 1,000 executives and found 65 percent of respondents felt none of the government bailouts, stimulus programs or support for banks had helped their businesses. 

Half of respondents also felt unemployment benefits should be extended beyond the Nov. 30 deadline. 

The survey tapped the opinions of company leaders with more than 100 employees. Aside from opposition to another stimulus, the survey also found company leaders were less optimistic about the future: 

• 55 percent felt their companies were stabilized, down from 62 percent last quarter;
• 13 percent felt their companies were growing, down from 16 percent last quarter;
• 28 percent felt their companies were “slipping,” up from 21 percent last quarter. 

“These surveys give us insight to better grasp the mood of our regional business community,” said Ren Cicalese, shareholder and officer of the Alloy Silverstein Group, in prepared remarks. “Also, belief that the local economy was stabilizing peaked at 62 percent in May compared to 55 percent in our latest survey.”

The finding mirrors results by Gallup that were released earlier Tuesday. 

Gallup found 47 percent of Americans rate economic conditions as “poor,” compared to 44 percent who felt that way a year ago.

Sixty-three percent also say current economic conditions are “getting worse,” compared to 58 percent a year ago.