Small-Business Conditions

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Missouri Small-Business Conditions, September 2005
09/01/2005

View the data below for more information on the Missouri Small-Business ConditionsSMsurvey for September 2005.

Q1. Do you consider the Missouri business environment, including government officials, bankers, media outlets, community organizations, etc., to be highly supportive, supportive, neutral, not supportive or not at all supportive of small business?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Highly Supportive 17 4.9 4.9 4.9
Supportive 143 40.9 40.9 45.7
Neutral 93 26.6 26.6 72.3
Not Supportive 44 12.6 12.6 84.9
Not at All Supportive 17 4.9 4.9 89.7
DK 36 10.3 10.3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q2. Do you believe that business conditions in your market area are CURRENTLY very good, good, just OK, poor, or very poor?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very good 39 11.1 11.1 11.1
Good 159 45.4 45.4 56.6
Just OK 106 30.3 30.3 86.9
Poor 34 9.7 9.7 96.6
Very Poor 10 2.9 2.9 99.4
DK 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q3. Are they improving, deteriorating, or more or less stable?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Rapidly Improving 21 6.0 6.0 6.0
Slowly Improving 51 14.6 14.6 20.6
Improving 13 3.7 3.7 24.3
Stable 214 61.1 61.1 85.4
Deteriorating 7 2.0 2.0 87.4
Slowly Deteriorating 27 7.7 7.7 95.1
Rapidly Deteriorating 12 3.4 3.4 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q4. Over the last three months, have you upgraded the technology or changed the processes you use in order to make your business more productive?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 147 42.0 42.0 42.0
No 198 56.6 56.6 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q5. Over the last three months have you made one or more expenditures to purchase capital equipment or business vehicles, or to up-grade your facilities?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 139 39.7 39.7 39.7
No 205 58.6 58.6 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q6. Over the last three months, have you made one or more expenditures directly or indirectly to train or upgrade the skills of one or more employees?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 133 38.0 38.0 38.0
No 214 61.1 61.1 99.1
DK 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q7. Do you currently have one or more job openings?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 70 20.0 20.0 20.0
No 277 79.1 79.1 99.1
DK 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q8. Over the last three months, has your average per employee payroll cost risen, fallen or stayed about the same?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Risen 63 18.0 18.0 18.0
Fallen 16 4.6 4.6 22.6
Stayed the same 257 73.4 73.4 96.0
DK 14 4.0 4.0 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q9. Which cost pressures are greater for your business...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages 203 58.0 58.0 58.0
Benefits 85 24.3 24.3 82.3
Both the same 21 6.0 6.0 88.3
Neither 22 6.3 6.3 94.6
DK 19 5.4 5.4 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q10. In the last three months, have the AVERAGE prices you paid for the goods and services purchased for your business increased, decreased or stayed about the same?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Increased a Lot 63 18.0 18.0 18.0
Increased Somewhat 130 37.1 37.1 55.1
Increased [no amount] 16 4.6 4.6 59.7
About the Same 130 37.1 37.1 96.9
Decreased Somewhat 4 1.1 1.1 98.0
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q11. In the last three months, have you increased, decreased or kept your AVERAGE selling prices about the same?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Increased a Lot 3 .9 .9 .9
Increased Somewhat 61 17.4 17.4 18.3
Increased [no amount] 7 2.0 2.0 20.3
About the Same 259 74.0 74.0 94.3
Decreased [no amount] 2 .6 .6 94.9
Decreased Somewhat 4 1.1 1.1 96.0
Decreased a Lot 2 .6 .6 96.6
DK 12 3.4 3.4 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q12. Which BEST describes your situation over the last three months?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid All of my credit needs were satisfied. 137 39.1 39.1 39.1
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 21 6.0 6.0 45.1
I did not want to borrow. 166 47.4 47.4 92.6
DK 24 6.9 6.9 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q13. Over the last three months, have sales been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 55 15.7 15.7 15.7
Good 149 42.6 42.6 58.3
Just OK 95 27.1 27.1 85.4
Poor 33 9.4 9.4 94.9
Very Poor 9 2.6 2.6 97.4
DK 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q14. Over the last three months, have profits been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 28 8.0 8.0 8.0
Good 123 35.1 35.1 43.1
Just OK 127 36.3 36.3 79.4
Poor 48 13.7 13.7 93.1
Very Poor 10 2.9 2.9 96.0
DK 13 3.7 3.7 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q15. Could you increase sales by 10 percent WITHOUT purchasing new equipment or hiring more employees?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 188 53.7 53.7 53.7
No 134 38.3 38.3 92.0
DK 28 8.0 8.0 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q16. At this time are you actively involved or investing in the startup of another business, separate and distinct from this one?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 44 12.6 12.6 12.6
No 297 84.9 84.9 97.4
DK 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q17. What are the prospects for your business over the next several months? Are they...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 71 20.3 20.3 20.3
Good 173 49.4 49.4 69.7
Just OK 82 23.4 23.4 93.1
Poor 8 2.3 2.3 95.4
Very Poor 5 1.4 1.4 96.9
DK 10 2.9 2.9 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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Q18. Why do you think so? Is your optimism principally due to...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 104 29.7 42.6 42.6
Lower costs 9 2.6 3.7 46.3
Price increases 7 2.0 2.9 49.2
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hire 28 8.0 11.5 60.7
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 14 4.0 5.7 66.4
SEASONAL WEATHER 26 7.4 10.7 77.0
Other 34 9.7 13.9 91.0
DK 21 6.0 8.6 99.6
Ref 1 .3 .4 100.0
Total 244 69.7 100.0
Missing System 106 30.3

Total 350 100.0

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Q19. Why do you think so? Is your pessimism principally due to...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 1 .3 7.7 7.7
Cost increases 2 .6 15.4 23.1
Pressure on selling prices 1 .3 7.7 30.8
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 3 .9 23.1 53.8
SEASONAL WEATHER 1 .3 7.7 61.5
Other 4 1.1 30.8 92.3
DK 1 .3 7.7 100.0
Total 13 3.7 100.0
Missing System 337 96.3

Total 350 100.0

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Q20. I am going to read you a list of possible business problems. What is the single most important problem facing your business today?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Weak Sales 32 9.1 9.1 9.1
Taxes 33 9.4 9.4 18.6
Employee quality or costs 43 12.3 12.3 30.9
Insurance 69 19.7 19.7 50.6
Big business competition 47 13.4 13.4 64.0
Inflation and rising prices 45 12.9 12.9 76.9
Credit availability or interest rates 14 4.0 4.0 80.9
Regulations Red tape 22 6.3 6.3 87.1
Other 14 4.0 4.0 91.1
DK 13 3.7 3.7 94.9
Ref 11 3.1 3.1 98.0
NONE NO PROBLEMS 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS1. In general, how satisfied are you with the direction that Missouri is headed? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied or not at all satisfied?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very satisfied 37 10.6 10.6 10.6
Somewhat satisfied 207 59.1 59.1 69.7
Not too satisfied 55 15.7 15.7 85.4
Not at all satisfied 25 7.1 7.1 92.6
DK 22 6.3 6.3 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS2. What do you value most in the area where you do business?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Quality of life 136 38.9 38.9 38.9
Physical environment 16 4.6 4.6 43.4
Opportunity 51 14.6 14.6 58.0
Vibrance and vitality 8 2.3 2.3 60.3
My roots are here 112 32.0 32.0 92.3
Other 8 2.3 2.3 94.6
DK 12 3.4 3.4 98.0
Ref 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0

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