Small-Business Conditions

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

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

Q1. Do you consider the Pennsylvania 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 6 1.7 1.7 1.7
Supportive 119 34.0 34.0 35.7
Neutral 105 30.0 30.0 65.7
Not Supportive 49 14.0 14.0 79.7
Not at All Supportive 40 11.4 11.4 91.1
DK 29 8.3 8.3 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 32 9.1 9.1 9.1
Good 136 38.9 38.9 48.0
Just OK 114 32.6 32.6 80.6
Poor 47 13.4 13.4 94.0
Very Poor 16 4.6 4.6 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
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 13 3.7 3.7 3.7
Slowly Improving 44 12.6 12.6 16.3
Improving 9 2.6 2.6 18.9
Stable 213 60.9 60.9 79.7
Deteriorating 7 2.0 2.0 81.7
Slowly Deteriorating 43 12.3 12.3 94.0
Rapidly Deteriorating 13 3.7 3.7 97.7
DK 8 2.3 2.3 100.0
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 134 38.3 38.3 38.3
No 215 61.4 61.4 99.7
DK 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 134 38.3 38.3 38.3
No 210 60.0 60.0 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 132 37.7 37.7 37.7
No 218 62.3 62.3 100.0
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 74 21.1 21.1 21.1
No 274 78.3 78.3 99.4
DK 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 86 24.6 24.6 24.6
Fallen 14 4.0 4.0 28.6
Stayed the same 234 66.9 66.9 95.4
DK 13 3.7 3.7 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 154 44.0 44.0 44.0
Benefits 127 36.3 36.3 80.3
Both the same 21 6.0 6.0 86.3
Neither 29 8.3 8.3 94.6
DK 18 5.1 5.1 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 84 24.0 24.0 24.0
Increased Somewhat 117 33.4 33.4 57.4
Increased [no amount] 8 2.3 2.3 59.7
About the Same 129 36.9 36.9 96.6
Decreased Somewhat 2 .6 .6 97.1
DK 9 2.6 2.6 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 7 2.0 2.0 2.0
Increased Somewhat 58 16.6 16.6 18.6
Increased [no amount] 7 2.0 2.0 20.6
About the Same 260 74.3 74.3 94.9
Decreased Somewhat 8 2.3 2.3 97.1
Decreased a Lot 3 .9 .9 98.0
DK 5 1.4 1.4 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. 131 37.4 37.4 37.4
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 15 4.3 4.3 41.7
I did not want to borrow. 181 51.7 51.7 93.4
DK 19 5.4 5.4 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 46 13.1 13.1 13.1
Good 142 40.6 40.6 53.7
Just OK 119 34.0 34.0 87.7
Poor 32 9.1 9.1 96.9
Very Poor 6 1.7 1.7 98.6
DK 4 1.1 1.1 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 26 7.4 7.4 7.4
Good 103 29.4 29.4 36.9
Just OK 158 45.1 45.1 82.0
Poor 46 13.1 13.1 95.1
Very Poor 7 2.0 2.0 97.1
DK 8 2.3 2.3 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 174 49.7 49.7 49.7
No 140 40.0 40.0 89.7
DK 33 9.4 9.4 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 35 10.0 10.0 10.0
No 305 87.1 87.1 97.1
DK 8 2.3 2.3 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .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 64 18.3 18.3 18.3
Good 139 39.7 39.7 58.0
Just OK 116 33.1 33.1 91.1
Poor 18 5.1 5.1 96.3
Very Poor 4 1.1 1.1 97.4
DK 7 2.0 2.0 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 83 23.7 40.9 40.9
Lower costs 8 2.3 3.9 44.8
Price increases 11 3.1 5.4 50.2
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hire 24 6.9 11.8 62.1
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 5 1.4 2.5 64.5
SEASONAL WEATHER 18 5.1 8.9 73.4
Other 27 7.7 13.3 86.7
DK 26 7.4 12.8 99.5
Ref 1 .3 .5 100.0
Total 203 58.0 100.0
Missing System 147 42.0

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 2 .6 9.1 9.1
Cost increases 5 1.4 22.7 31.8
Pressure on selling prices 2 .6 9.1 40.9
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 1 .3 4.5 45.5
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 5 1.4 22.7 68.2
SEASONAL WEATHER 1 .3 4.5 72.7
Other 5 1.4 22.7 95.5
Ref 1 .3 4.5 100.0
Total 22 6.3 100.0
Missing System 328 93.7

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 33 9.4 9.4 9.4
Taxes 53 15.1 15.1 24.6
Employee quality or costs 24 6.9 6.9 31.4
Insurance 64 18.3 18.3 49.7
Big business competition 48 13.7 13.7 63.4
Inflation and rising prices 45 12.9 12.9 76.3
Credit availability or interest rates 10 2.9 2.9 79.1
Regulations Red tape 25 7.1 7.1 86.3
Other 13 3.7 3.7 90.0
DK 10 2.9 2.9 92.9
Ref 18 5.1 5.1 98.0
NONE NO PROBLEMS 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS11. Is the PRIMARY reason for any cash flow problems in your business generally associated with...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid The need to make large investments and wait for sales 23 6.6 6.6 6.6
Unexpected variations in sales or costs 27 7.7 7.7 14.3
Seasonality 49 14.0 14.0 28.3
Weak sales 40 11.4 11.4 39.7
Difficulty collecting money owed you 63 18.0 18.0 57.7
OR, Don’t experience cash flow problems 99 28.3 28.3 86.0
Other 7 2.0 2.0 88.0
DK 32 9.1 9.1 97.1
Refuse 10 2.9 2.9 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS12. Which is the ONE most important action you usually take to resolve a cash flow problem? Do you...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Draw on personal resources 39 11.1 15.5 15.5
Borrow 27 7.7 10.8 26.3
Adjust scheduled payments 25 7.1 10.0 36.3
Adjust scheduled purchases 39 11.1 15.5 51.8
Try harder to collect money owed you 64 18.3 25.5 77.3
Other 7 2.0 2.8 80.1
DK 35 10.0 13.9 94.0
Refuse 15 4.3 6.0 100.0
Total 251 71.7 100.0
Missing System 99 28.3

Total 350 100.0


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