Small-Business Conditions

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

View the data below for more information on the Oregon Small-Business ConditionsSM survey for September 2005.

Q1. Do you consider the Oregon 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 16 4.6 4.6 4.6
Supportive 120 34.3 34.3 38.9
Neutral 90 25.7 25.7 64.6
Not Supportive 67 19.1 19.1 83.7
Not at All Supportive 25 7.1 7.1 90.9
DK 30 8.6 8.6 99.4
Refuse 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 52 14.9 14.9 14.9
Good 126 36.0 36.0 50.9
Just OK 129 36.9 36.9 87.7
Poor 24 6.9 6.9 94.6
Very Poor 11 3.1 3.1 97.7
DK 8 2.3 2.3 100.0
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 26 7.4 7.4 7.4
Slowly Improving 55 15.7 15.7 23.1
Improving 12 3.4 3.4 26.6
Stable 199 56.9 56.9 83.4
Deteriorating 11 3.1 3.1 86.6
Slowly Deteriorating 29 8.3 8.3 94.9
Rapidly Deteriorating 12 3.4 3.4 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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 156 44.6 44.6 44.6
No 185 52.9 52.9 97.4
DK 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
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 150 42.9 42.9 42.9
No 195 55.7 55.7 98.6
DK 4 1.1 1.1 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 144 41.1 41.1 41.1
No 201 57.4 57.4 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
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 61 17.4 17.4 17.4
No 288 82.3 82.3 99.7
DK 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 96 27.4 27.4 27.4
Fallen 8 2.3 2.3 29.7
Stayed the same 230 65.7 65.7 95.4
DK 15 4.3 4.3 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 184 52.6 52.6 52.6
Benefits 99 28.3 28.3 80.9
Both the same 12 3.4 3.4 84.3
Neither 34 9.7 9.7 94.0
DK 19 5.4 5.4 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 65 18.6 18.6 18.6
Increased Somewhat 122 34.9 34.9 53.4
Increased [no amount] 10 2.9 2.9 56.3
About the Same 141 40.3 40.3 96.6
Decreased [no amount] 2 .6 .6 97.1
Decreased Somewhat 3 .9 .9 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 11 3.1 3.1 3.1
Increased Somewhat 65 18.6 18.6 21.7
Increased [no amount] 7 2.0 2.0 23.7
About the Same 244 69.7 69.7 93.4
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 93.7
Decreased Somewhat 9 2.6 2.6 96.3
Decreased a Lot 2 .6 .6 96.9
DK 9 2.6 2.6 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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. 25 7.1 7.1 46.3
I did not want to borrow. 168 48.0 48.0 94.3
DK 18 5.1 5.1 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 72 20.6 20.6 20.6
Good 139 39.7 39.7 60.3
Just OK 98 28.0 28.0 88.3
Poor 20 5.7 5.7 94.0
Very Poor 10 2.9 2.9 96.9
DK 8 2.3 2.3 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 42 12.0 12.0 12.0
Good 126 36.0 36.0 48.0
Just OK 118 33.7 33.7 81.7
Poor 41 11.7 11.7 93.4
Very Poor 8 2.3 2.3 95.7
DK 13 3.7 3.7 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 190 54.3 54.3 54.3
No 133 38.0 38.0 92.3
DK 26 7.4 7.4 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 47 13.4 13.4 13.4
No 299 85.4 85.4 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 83 23.7 23.7 23.7
Good 159 45.4 45.4 69.1
Just OK 85 24.3 24.3 93.4
Poor 13 3.7 3.7 97.1
Very Poor 4 1.1 1.1 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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 107 30.6 44.2 44.2
Lower costs 4 1.1 1.7 45.9
Price increases 6 1.7 2.5 48.3
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hire 27 7.7 11.2 59.5
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 9 2.6 3.7 63.2
SEASONAL WEATHER 29 8.3 12.0 75.2
Other 43 12.3 17.8 93.0
DK 14 4.0 5.8 98.8
Ref 3 .9 1.2 100.0
Total 242 69.1 100.0
Missing System 108 30.9

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 5.9 5.9
Cost increases 1 .3 5.9 11.8
Pressure on selling prices 2 .6 11.8 23.5
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 1 .3 5.9 29.4
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 3 .9 17.6 47.1
Other 8 2.3 47.1 94.1
Ref 1 .3 5.9 100.0
Total 17 4.9 100.0
Missing System 333 95.1

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 35 10.0 10.0 10.0
Taxes 32 9.1 9.1 19.1
Employee quality or costs 36 10.3 10.3 29.4
Insurance 61 17.4 17.4 46.9
Big business competition 49 14.0 14.0 60.9
Inflation and rising prices 39 11.1 11.1 72.0
Credit availability or interest rates 10 2.9 2.9 74.9
Regulations Red tape 31 8.9 8.9 83.7
Other 19 5.4 5.4 89.1
DK 15 4.3 4.3 93.4
Ref 13 3.7 3.7 97.1
NONE NO PROBLEMS 10 2.9 2.9 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS7. If you were to give your employees a compensation increase equivalent to $1.00 per hour, how would you do it? Would you give it to them in...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages or salary 195 55.7 55.7 55.7
Health benefits 37 10.6 10.6 66.3
Retirement benefits 19 5.4 5.4 71.7
Paid leave 8 2.3 2.3 74.0
OR, Some other way? 30 8.6 8.6 82.6
Wouldn’t give increase 17 4.9 4.9 87.4
DK 37 10.6 10.6 98.0
Refuse 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS8. If your employees could choose, how they would like to receive a compensation increase of $1.00 per hour? Do you think they would like the increase in...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages or salary 223 63.7 63.7 63.7
Health benefits 46 13.1 13.1 76.9
Retirement benefits 12 3.4 3.4 80.3
Paid leave 14 4.0 4.0 84.3
OR, Some other way? 11 3.1 3.1 87.4
Wouldn’t give increase 7 2.0 2.0 89.4
DK 29 8.3 8.3 97.7
Refuse 8 2.3 2.3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0

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