MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - Local business leaders are feeling optimistic as we head into the middle of 2026. MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center just teamed up with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce to release the first-ever Middle Tennessee Business Confidence Index. The report gives the region a score of 60.1 out of 100. That is a higher confidence level than what most CEOs are reporting across the rest of the country.

While current sales and profits are strong, the outlook for the future is a bit more cautious. MTSU’s Dr. Murat Arik says the data shows our local businesses are resilient, but they are hitting some walls. Specifically, business owners in Rutherford County and surrounding areas are worried about whether their employees can actually afford to live here. Housing affordability scored low on the index, proving that the cost of a home is now a direct threat to the local workforce.

Business owners also pointed to high interest rates and "regulatory uncertainty" as hurdles for the coming year. When asked what would help the most, the answer from the business community was clear: tax relief, better roads, and more affordable housing. This new index will be released every quarter to help local city councils and county commissions understand exactly what the business community needs to stay competitive.