Small-Business Conditions

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Northeast Texas Small-Business Conditions, September 2005
09/01/2005

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

Q1. Do you consider the Texas 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 18 5.1 5.1 5.1
Supportive 134 38.3 38.3 43.4
Neutral 99 28.3 28.3 71.7
Not Supportive 44 12.6 12.6 84.3
Not at All Supportive 17 4.9 4.9 89.1
DK 36 10.3 10.3 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 56 16.0 16.0 16.0
Good 156 44.6 44.6 60.6
Just OK 86 24.6 24.6 85.1
Poor 39 11.1 11.1 96.3
Very Poor 11 3.1 3.1 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 14 4.0 4.0 4.0
Slowly Improving 79 22.6 22.6 26.6
Improving 16 4.6 4.6 31.1
Stable 184 52.6 52.6 83.7
Deteriorating 12 3.4 3.4 87.1
Slowly Deteriorating 27 7.7 7.7 94.9
Rapidly Deteriorating 14 4.0 4.0 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 152 43.4 43.4 43.4
No 192 54.9 54.9 98.3
DK 4 1.1 1.1 99.4
Refuse 2 .6 .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 136 38.9 38.9 38.9
No 208 59.4 59.4 98.3
DK 5 1.4 1.4 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 134 38.3 38.3 38.3
No 215 61.4 61.4 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .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 65 18.6 18.6 18.6
No 284 81.1 81.1 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 64 18.3 18.3 18.3
Fallen 18 5.1 5.1 23.4
Stayed the same 253 72.3 72.3 95.7
DK 15 4.3 4.3 100.0
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 193 55.1 55.1 55.1
Benefits 89 25.4 25.4 80.6
Both the same 17 4.9 4.9 85.4
Neither 24 6.9 6.9 92.3
DK 27 7.7 7.7 100.0
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 59 16.9 16.9 16.9
Increased Somewhat 104 29.7 29.7 46.6
Increased [no amount] 9 2.6 2.6 49.1
About the Same 161 46.0 46.0 95.1
Decreased Somewhat 4 1.1 1.1 96.3
Decreased a Lot 3 .9 .9 97.1
DK 10 2.9 2.9 100.0
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 12 3.4 3.4 3.4
Increased Somewhat 38 10.9 10.9 14.3
Increased [no amount] 4 1.1 1.1 15.4
About the Same 272 77.7 77.7 93.1
Decreased [no amount] 3 .9 .9 94.0
Decreased Somewhat 6 1.7 1.7 95.7
Decreased a Lot 5 1.4 1.4 97.1
DK 7 2.0 2.0 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
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. 119 34.0 34.0 34.0
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 25 7.1 7.1 41.1
I did not want to borrow. 181 51.7 51.7 92.9
DK 21 6.0 6.0 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 42 12.0 12.0 12.0
Good 166 47.4 47.4 59.4
Just OK 91 26.0 26.0 85.4
Poor 34 9.7 9.7 95.1
Very Poor 10 2.9 2.9 98.0
DK 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
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 29 8.3 8.3 8.3
Good 133 38.0 38.0 46.3
Just OK 119 34.0 34.0 80.3
Poor 48 13.7 13.7 94.0
Very Poor 12 3.4 3.4 97.4
DK 8 2.3 2.3 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 192 54.9 54.9 54.9
No 129 36.9 36.9 91.7
DK 28 8.0 8.0 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 46 13.1 13.1 13.1
No 296 84.6 84.6 97.7
DK 8 2.3 2.3 100.0
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 73 20.9 20.9 20.9
Good 160 45.7 45.7 66.6
Just OK 83 23.7 23.7 90.3
Poor 13 3.7 3.7 94.0
Very Poor 8 2.3 2.3 96.3
DK 13 3.7 3.7 100.0
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 104 29.7 44.6 44.6
Lower costs 6 1.7 2.6 47.2
Price increases 7 2.0 3.0 50.2
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hire 28 8.0 12.0 62.2
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 3 .9 1.3 63.5
SEASONAL WEATHER 28 8.0 12.0 75.5
Other 36 10.3 15.5 91.0
DK 20 5.7 8.6 99.6
Ref 1 .3 .4 100.0
Total 233 66.6 100.0
Missing System 117 33.4

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 4 1.1 19.0 19.0
Cost increases 4 1.1 19.0 38.1
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 4 1.1 19.0 57.1
Other 6 1.7 28.6 85.7
DK 3 .9 14.3 100.0
Total 21 6.0 100.0
Missing System 329 94.0

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 31 8.9 8.9 8.9
Taxes 44 12.6 12.6 21.4
Employee quality or costs 28 8.0 8.0 29.4
Insurance 46 13.1 13.1 42.6
Big business competition 53 15.1 15.1 57.7
Inflation and rising prices 62 17.7 17.7 75.4
Credit availability or interest rates 2 .6 .6 76.0
Regulations Red tape 27 7.7 7.7 83.7
Other 15 4.3 4.3 88.0
DK 20 5.7 5.7 93.7
Ref 8 2.3 2.3 96.0
NONE NO PROBLEMS 14 4.0 4.0 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS15. Which type of tax increase would have the most adverse effect on your business?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Payroll taxes 85 24.3 24.3 24.3
Corporate income or franchise taxes 44 12.6 12.6 36.9
Real property taxes 46 13.1 13.1 50.0
Personal income taxes 52 14.9 14.9 64.9
Personal property, including inventory, taxes 56 16.0 16.0 80.9
DK 57 16.3 16.3 97.1
Refuse 10 2.9 2.9 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS16. If you could improve your workforce in just ONE area, would that be...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid People skills 85 24.3 24.3 24.3
Job-specific skills 71 20.3 20.3 44.6
Basic literacy and math 12 3.4 3.4 48.0
Work ethic 63 18.0 18.0 66.0
English proficiency 25 7.1 7.1 73.1
Other 8 2.3 2.3 75.4
Satisfied Cant improve 30 8.6 8.6 84.0
DK 42 12.0 12.0 96.0
Refuse 14 4.0 4.0 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0

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