Wisconsin Businesses Express Muted Optimism in New Survey

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The Winter 2026 Survey from the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce organization (WMC) reflects guarded optimism on the part of the state’s employer base. The survey is conducted semi-annually by the WMC. Respondents to the Winter 2026 survey had a middle-of-the-road view of the Wisconsin economy, with 73% describing it as moderate, 19% strong, and 8% weak. The top concerns of respondents, apart from the national economy, were healthcare costs and labor availability. Finally, survey respondents expressed significant support for the current federal tariff policies, with 70% supporting the tariffs. At the same time however, 47% said that the tariffs have had a negative impact on their businesses, while 41% said that they have had no impact. 


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