Local economist Kamran Afshar said an October survey of businesses in the Lehigh Valley revealed signs of slower growth across several key areas, based on business projections for hiring, purchasing, and revenue figures for the next six months, as compared to the previous six months.

A poll of 220 Lehigh Valley businesses offered local insights into business projections, such as purchases, hiring and revenues for the next six months, and compared them with data from the prior six months.