The CII Business Confidence Index for July-Sept quarter has shot up to 57.4, up from 53.7 in April-June and 49.9 in Jan-March quarter this year. During the same quarter last fiscal, the index had touched the all-time low of 45.7. The number 50 is the dividing line on the index between positive and weak business confidence. Commenting on the upward march in the value of index, Director General, CII, Chandrajit Banerjee, said, the determination shown by the new government at the Center to provide an impetus to growth along with reviving the feel good factor has sent the business confidence index soaring for the second quarter in a row. The index is based on responses from over 150 industry members. Sixty per cent of the respondents are from manufacturing while 36 per cent belong to the services sector. The highest percentage of respondents expected GDP in the current fiscal to expand by 5.0-5.5 per cent, up from sub-5 per cent growth witnessed in the last two years.The index cites slow pick up in global demand, high inflation and rising borrowing costs as the top three concerns of the respondents. Mr. Banerjee said, while little can be done about addressing the global slowdown concern, all policy options must be explored to tackle the problem of inflation and high borrowing cost.