Optimism's rising among businesses - largely driven by construction

ANZ's October business outlook has business confidence up five points on 66 - a 10-year high.

Meanwhile, the proportion of businesses feeling they're faring well, has climbed to minus-11 - that highest point since March.

Chief economist Sharon Zollner says it boils down to interest rates.

She says fewer construction firms say they're not busy - than a year ago.

She says they're still the majority so it's still tough times - but things are just starting to look up a little.