Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens can draw comfort that despite all the turmoil and uncertainty in the global economy, Australian businesses are fairly upbeat.
On the eve of the central bank's first board meeting of the year, two surveys found businesses in an optimistic frame of mind, further lessening the need for the RBA to be panicked into a further reduction in interest rates.
Economists expect the cash rate to be left at two per cent after Tuesday's board meeting, after last cutting it in May last year.
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Kate Carnell believes the economy has turned the corner.
"Even with the quite turbulent offshore conditions, we are seeing Australian businesses pretty solid, pretty optimistic about the year ahead," she told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
The chamber's business expectations survey for the December quarter showed confidence has now improved for three consecutive quarters while business conditions strengthened to stand well above a five-year average.
It showed increased sales and exports, while profits are starting to escalate, something Ms Carnell said hasn't happened for sometime.
Equally upbeat was the Australian Industry Group's national CEO survey of business prospects showing bosses at their most optimistic at any time in the past three years.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents expect annual sales to improve in 2016, while overseas sales are anticipated to rise for over a quarter of exporters.
Over a third expected to increase their staff numbers.
Ai Group head Innes Willox says the improved outlook reflects favourable developments in the latter half of 2015 - a further drop in the Australian dollar, low interest rates and inflation, a stronger labour market and a resurgent residential construction sector.
The Ai Group's monthly gauge of manufacturing, also released on Monday, showed the sector enjoying its longest expansionary run since 2010.
Mr Willox says businesses are working hard to eke out much-needed productivity gains, but government also has critical roles in supporting confidence, competitiveness, investment and innovation.
In this election year the policy debate needs to focus on improving the tax system, investing in skills and education, removing barriers from inflexible workplace arrangements and supporting a faster pace of innovation, he said.
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