The results of the survey conducted by Prisma every year on a sample of 150 companies from Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia and this year in Austria too was presented at the Austria Connect conference which attracted around 200 participants from Austria and the Southeast Europe region (JIE).
The Economic Index for Croatia this year increased by only two points compared to last year, rising from 51 to 53 points which puts Croatia at the bottom of the ranking compared with other countries included in the survey. Nevertheless, 54% of the Croatian companies surveyed had a somewhat more positive outlook for the future believing that the situation would improve in the next 12 months, Prisma noted, adding that Croatia was still trapped in the negative perception prevalent in 2014.
Prisma's Ludwig Mertes explained that his could partially be due to the public still not feeling the real effects of growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the end of the recession as well as by disillusionment after the 2015 parliamentary elections.
According to Mertes, Serbia has shown a surprising increase with its index rising to 62 points which is 4 points higher than last year. That result comes from the fact that 36% of Serbian companies surveyed say that the economic mood is very good and as many as 62% believe that the situation will improve in the next 12 months.
With a score of 57 points, Bosnia and Herzegovina showed the second largest jump (last year that was 54 points) which Prisma also considers to be surprising considering the political instability in that country, adding that perhaps investments from Arabian countries have impacted the positive perception among companies.
Slovenia's index increased from 49 points to 54 which Prisma assessed that following several difficult years the situation in Slovenia is finally starting to get better.
This year Austria was included in the survey and scored an index of 55 points putting it in a similar position to Croatia and Slovenia.