SMALL Business owners gathered for breakfast to mark the start of Small Business Month.
The breakfast, hosted by Scenic Rim Regional Council with 4BC’s Olympia Kwitowski as the MC, included guest speaker Katrina Pattinson from ID (informed decisions).
Pattinson gave the audience an informative overview of the economic profile for the region in relation to national data, which is particularly relevant in light of recent economic changes.
“Inflation has fallen and so has spending growth,” she said.
The Scenic Rim has a higher mortgage ownership rate in comparison to the National rate, so interest rates will affect consumer spending.”
Pattinson said interest rates have seen house prices flatten out recently after three years of very strong growth, driven by strong population growth in the Scenic Rim, mainly coming from Gold Coast and Logan.”
“It’s important every year to look at what’s driving that wealth and what’s pulling it back,” she said.
Pattinson said she sees opportunities in the region in financial and professional services, with agriculture remaining a very strong industry and a major employer.
The morning finished with a panel discussion featuring three local businesses – Aquis Farm, Gelita and Scenic Rim Farm Box.
