Small-Business Conditions

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Arizona Small-Business Conditions, December 2005
12/01/2005

View the data below for more information on the Arizona Small-Business ConditionsSMsurvey for November 2005.

Q1. Do you consider the Arizona 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 24 6.9 6.9 6.9
Supportive 137 39.1 39.1 46.0
Neutral 100 28.6 28.6 74.6
Not Supportive 40 11.4 11.4 86.0
Not at All Supportive 12 3.4 3.4 89.4
DK 35 10.0 10.0 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 70 20.0 20.0 20.0
Good 165 47.1 47.1 67.1
Just OK 85 24.3 24.3 91.4
Poor 21 6.0 6.0 97.4
Very Poor 6 1.7 1.7 99.1
DK 2 .6 .6 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .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 42 12.0 12.0 12.0
Slowly Improving 59 16.9 16.9 28.9
Improving 29 8.3 8.3 37.1
Stable 184 52.6 52.6 89.7
Deteriorating 6 1.7 1.7 91.4
Slowly Deteriorating 24 6.9 6.9 98.3
Rapidly Deteriorating 1 .3 .3 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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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 166 47.4 47.4 47.4
No 181 51.7 51.7 99.1
DK 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 157 44.9 44.9 44.9
No 190 54.3 54.3 99.1
DK 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 168 48.0 48.0 48.0
No 174 49.7 49.7 97.7
DK 8 2.3 2.3 100.0
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 109 31.1 31.1 31.1
No 241 68.9 68.9 100.0
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 77 22.0 22.0 22.0
Fallen 17 4.9 4.9 26.9
Stayed the same 242 69.1 69.1 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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Q9. Which cost pressures are greater for your business...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages 209 59.7 59.7 59.7
Benefits 86 24.6 24.6 84.3
Both the same 21 6.0 6.0 90.3
Neither 17 4.9 4.9 95.1
DK 14 4.0 4.0 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 112 32.0 32.0 56.0
Increased [no amount] 10 2.9 2.9 58.9
About the Same 132 37.7 37.7 96.6
Decreased [no amount] 2 .6 .6 97.1
Decreased Somewhat 3 .9 .9 98.0
DK 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
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 15 4.3 4.3 4.3
Increased Somewhat 62 17.7 17.7 22.0
Increased [no amount] 4 1.1 1.1 23.1
About the Same 254 72.6 72.6 95.7
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 96.0
Decreased Somewhat 5 1.4 1.4 97.4
DK 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
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. 122 34.9 34.9 34.9
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 26 7.4 7.4 42.3
I did not want to borrow. 189 54.0 54.0 96.3
DK 12 3.4 3.4 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 82 23.4 23.4 23.4
Good 161 46.0 46.0 69.4
Just OK 78 22.3 22.3 91.7
Poor 22 6.3 6.3 98.0
Very Poor 4 1.1 1.1 99.1
DK 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 44 12.6 12.6 12.6
Good 140 40.0 40.0 52.6
Just OK 124 35.4 35.4 88.0
Poor 28 8.0 8.0 96.0
Very Poor 4 1.1 1.1 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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Q15. Could you increase sales by 10 percent WITHOUT purchasing new equipment or hiring more employees?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 208 59.4 59.4 59.4
No 115 32.9 32.9 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 297 84.9 84.9 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0

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Q17. What are the prospects for your business over the next several months?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 111 31.7 31.7 31.7
Good 156 44.6 44.6 76.3
Just OK 67 19.1 19.1 95.4
Poor 6 1.7 1.7 97.1
Very Poor 4 1.1 1.1 98.3
DK 4 1.1 1.1 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0

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Q18. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 123 35.1 46.1 46.1
Lower costs 6 1.7 2.2 48.3
Price increases 10 2.9 3.7 52.1
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 39 11.1 14.6 66.7
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 7 2.0 2.6 69.3
SEASONAL WEATHER 32 9.1 12.0 81.3
Other 31 8.9 11.6 92.9
DK 19 5.4 7.1 100.0
Total 267 76.3 100.0
Missing System 83 23.7

Total 350 100.0

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Q19. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 2 .6 20.0 20.0
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 3 .9 30.0 50.0
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 1 .3 10.0 60.0
SEASONAL WEATHER 2 .6 20.0 80.0
Other 2 .6 20.0 100.0
Total 10 2.9 100.0
Missing System 340 97.1

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 32 9.1 9.1 9.1
Taxes 31 8.9 8.9 18.0
Employee quality or costs 60 17.1 17.1 35.1
Insurance 55 15.7 15.7 50.9
Big business competition 33 9.4 9.4 60.3
Inflation and rising prices 52 14.9 14.9 75.1
Credit availability or interest rates 12 3.4 3.4 78.6
Regulations Red tape 30 8.6 8.6 87.1
Other 16 4.6 4.6 91.7
DK 12 3.4 3.4 95.1
Ref 2 .6 .6 95.7
NONE NO PROBLEMS 15 4.3 4.3 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0

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AZ1. What was the proposed percent increase in your PER employee health insurance premium at your last renewal?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Don't have employee health insurance 118 33.7 33.7 33.7
About the same as the prior period 35 10.0 10.0 43.7
10%-24% increase 67 19.1 19.1 62.9
25%-49% increase 19 5.4 5.4 68.3
50% increase or more 7 2.0 2.0 70.3
First year for insurance; no point of comparison 5 1.4 1.4 71.7
DK 81 23.1 23.1 94.9
Refuse 18 5.1 5.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0

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AZ2. What was your most important response to this increase?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Increased employee cost-share, including higher deductibles 46 13.1 13.1 13.1
Reduced benefits levels 17 4.9 4.9 18.0
Eliminated employee health insurance 28 8.0 8.0 26.0
Nothing 159 45.4 45.4 71.4
DK 83 23.7 23.7 95.1
Refuse 7 2.0 2.0 97.1
Else 10 2.9 2.9 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0

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