Activity in the three areas measured by large Iowa employers to gauge the strength of business for the coming six months – sales, capital spending and employment – did not vary significantly from results of the previous quarter. The third-quarter Iowa Business Council (IBC) Overall Economic Outlook Survey Index fell to 61.3 – one point lower than three months ago, but 12.6 points higher than one year ago. “These survey results, while still indicating an overall positive sentiment for the next six months, suggest that the economy is still unpredictable,” said Tom Aller, president of Interstate Power & Light and 2010 chair of the IBC. The survey was completed by the 20 corporate members of the Iowa Business Council during the second half of August.