The surrounding west and north areas of the State are the second most confident as far as consumer sentiment is concerned.

BankSA monitors the activities of 300 consumers and 300 businesses through its tri-annual survey.

The statistics did show that people are feeling less positive about their situation-personally and financially.

We are well above most rural areas, but we fell below the metropolitan average for 2008.

According to results we are also proud people with consumers’ pride in South Aust-ralia increasing to 80 percent.

Businesses are becoming more optimistic and proud of how the state is performing.

Seventy-six percent of businesses are positive about their situation and 88 percent express pride in the performance of the State.

Business confidence has dropped significantly in the local area since 2005 when the area performed well above the rural and metropolitan average, but there was a rise between May and August.

Some people would attribute the decline to the increase in cost of living and the rise of interest rates.

Fewer people are also becoming worried about unemployment, but fewer people believe they could switch jobs if needed.

The last survey was conducted from August 6 to 9.

Results were that the area was above average in some areas, but at the rural average in others.