Economic indicator: Chamber membership

Membership in business organizations are yet another indicator of an area's economic health.

It makes sense: Business owners who feel confident about the future are more likely to spend money joining a chamber of commerce.

Consider the recent membership drive at The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce in early September. The organization reported 65 new members, bringing its total to 1,930. That's the highest since 2009, when it was 1,811.

At this rate, the organization could grow past 2,000 members before long. Peak membership in the chamber was in 2007, when the Naples association had 2,178 members.