SALISBURY, Md. - A new poll shows widespread concerns about Maryland's economy, and business owners on the Eastern Shore say rising costs and changing spending habits are putting pressure on their bottom lines.
The UMBC Poll, released Oct. 8, found 81% of Maryland likely voters rate the state's economic conditions over the past year as fair or poor, while just 17% describe them as good or excellent.
Looking ahead, 43% expect economic conditions to worsen over the next year, compared with 12% who believe they will improve. Another 37% expect conditions to remain about the same.
Bill Chambers with the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce says those findings reflect what he's hearing from businesses across the region.
"There's a lot of hesitation because of the economy right now. Inflation, energy prices, everything's going up," Chambers said.
Chambers described the local economy as weak, saying many businesses reported flat or declining performance over the summer. He pointed to tariffs, energy prices and economic uncertainty as factors discouraging businesses from hiring or making new investments.
For some downtown Salisbury business owners, those challenges are already affecting day-to-day operations.
Alex Scott, who operates The Brick Room and Brick Row Market, says rising prices from distributors have forced him to make difficult decisions about what to charge customers.
"I've had to tighten my belt where necessary. Unfortunately, I've had to raise prices on some things and others I've been able to lower them, to get people to come out more often," Scott said.
Despite the challenges, Scott says he remains optimistic about Salisbury's local economy, pointing to a loyal customer base that continues supporting downtown businesses.
However, he says recurring expenses, particularly water and electricity bills, have become some of his biggest concerns.
"But when I get that water bill, when I get that electric bill, those are the things that I really struggle with," Scott said.
Rob Mulford, president of Market Street Inn, says his business is facing similar challenges.
After 25 years in the restaurant industry, Mulford says rising utility expenses, food costs and even supplies like takeout containers and straws are making it increasingly difficult to maintain profits.
He says customers are also adjusting their spending habits, dining out less frequently and spending less when they do.
"It's almost between 20 to 40% more on top of your bottom line. And you can only get so much profit out of a hamburger," Mulford said.
According to the UMBC Poll, 94% of likely voters consider the prices of everyday goods and services when evaluating Maryland's economy. Another 90% consider their personal finances, while 86% consider housing costs.
The survey also found 49% believe Maryland is on the wrong track, compared with 37% who believe the state is heading in the right direction.
Gov. Wes Moore's job approval rating stands at 49%, with 42% disapproving.
Chambers says Maryland needs to become more competitive with neighboring states to encourage business growth and investment. He also identified housing availability and development regulations as challenges facing the Eastern Shore.
"We can build our business base here on the shore, but we need places for people to live. We don't have that right now," Chambers said.
Chambers also told WBOC that Maryland's House speaker contacted the state chamber Thursday morning seeking feedback from local chambers about laws and regulations that could be changed to improve the state's business climate.
He said the recommendations could help inform legislation during the 2027 General Assembly session, though it is unclear whether the request was connected to the poll's release.
The UMBC Poll surveyed 776 Maryland likely voters from Sept. 22 through Sept. 27 and has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
