Businesses are feeling fairly upbeat about the year to come - despite weak demand

NZIER's latest Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion reveals a net-nine-percent of firms expect general economic conditions to improve.

That's a jump from a net-four-percent feeling downbeat three months prior.

Deputy Chief Executive Christina Leung says the building sector's feeling the most buoyant - with expectations of more housing and commercial construction in the next one-to-two years.

She says it seems firms expect lower interest rates should help support an uptick in demand.