Cape Verdean business owners are more confident. The INE business outlook inquiry shows that not only did the business confidence indicator reverse its downward tendency, but also hit a peak. Business owners in the transportation sector show the highest levels of optimism, with the indicator standing at 39, the maximum value. Business activity perspectives and employment are the factors that contributed to the increase in confidence in the sector.

The transformation industry also showed excellent performance in the second trimester of 2006. According to the INE, the confidence of business owners in this area was the highest it has ever been (19). The determining factors in this sector were current production and employment perspectives.

Tourism continues to grow, as it has since the beginning of the year. Although the sector was better in 2003, the economic confidence indicator for tourism is growing rapidly, and currently stands at 10.

Similar behavior is seen in the construction and public works sector. Despite continuing in negative terrain (-13), the confidence of business owners in this sector has maintained the upward tendency of the past eight trimesters.

Retail commerce reversed its downward tendency, with the business confidence index hitting 6 in the second trimester of 2006. The only sector of activity that saw a drop in business confidence in this trimester was retail fair commerce, which stands at -7.