Small-Business Conditions

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

View the data below for more information on the Washington Small-Business ConditionsTM survey from November 2005.

Q1. Do you consider the Washington 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 7 2.0 2.0 2.0
Supportive 97 27.7 27.7 29.7
Neutral 109 31.1 31.1 60.9
Not Supportive 72 20.6 20.6 81.4
Not at All Supportive 33 9.4 9.4 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 39 11.1 11.1 11.1
Good 142 40.6 40.6 51.7
Just OK 114 32.6 32.6 84.3
Poor 37 10.6 10.6 94.9
Very Poor 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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Q3. Are they improving, deteriorating, or more or less stable?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Rapidly Improving 20 5.7 5.7 5.7
Slowly Improving 59 16.9 16.9 22.6
Improving 22 6.3 6.3 28.9
Stable 184 52.6 52.6 81.4
Deteriorating 12 3.4 3.4 84.9
Slowly Deteriorating 37 10.6 10.6 95.4
Rapidly Deteriorating 9 2.6 2.6 98.0
DK 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
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 158 45.1 45.1 45.1
No 188 53.7 53.7 98.9
DK 2 .6 .6 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 155 44.3 44.3 44.3
No 192 54.9 54.9 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 150 42.9 42.9 42.9
No 196 56.0 56.0 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 57 16.3 16.3 16.3
No 292 83.4 83.4 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 19 5.4 5.4 32.9
Stayed the same 224 64.0 64.0 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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Q9. Which cost pressures are greater for your business...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages 176 50.3 50.3 50.3
Benefits 110 31.4 31.4 81.7
Both the same 22 6.3 6.3 88.0
Neither 27 7.7 7.7 95.7
DK 12 3.4 3.4 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 87 24.9 24.9 24.9
Increased Somewhat 115 32.9 32.9 57.7
Increased [no amount] 18 5.1 5.1 62.9
About the Same 120 34.3 34.3 97.1
Decreased Somewhat 1 .3 .3 97.4
Decreased a Lot 2 .6 .6 98.0
DK 6 1.7 1.7 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 11 3.1 3.1 3.1
Increased Somewhat 69 19.7 19.7 22.9
Increased [no amount] 9 2.6 2.6 25.4
About the Same 243 69.4 69.4 94.9
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 95.1
Decreased Somewhat 6 1.7 1.7 96.9
Decreased a Lot 2 .6 .6 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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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. 121 34.6 34.6 34.6
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 23 6.6 6.6 41.1
I did not want to borrow. 191 54.6 54.6 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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Q13. Over the last three months, have sales been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 52 14.9 14.9 14.9
Good 144 41.1 41.1 56.0
Just OK 106 30.3 30.3 86.3
Poor 35 10.0 10.0 96.3
Very Poor 5 1.4 1.4 97.7
DK 6 1.7 1.7 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .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 30 8.6 8.6 8.6
Good 133 38.0 38.0 46.6
Just OK 121 34.6 34.6 81.1
Poor 43 12.3 12.3 93.4
Very Poor 11 3.1 3.1 96.6
DK 10 2.9 2.9 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 180 51.4 51.4 51.4
No 142 40.6 40.6 92.0
DK 27 7.7 7.7 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 41 11.7 11.7 11.7
No 306 87.4 87.4 99.1
DK 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 71 20.3 20.3 20.3
Good 145 41.4 41.4 61.7
Just OK 97 27.7 27.7 89.4
Poor 20 5.7 5.7 95.1
Very Poor 8 2.3 2.3 97.4
DK 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
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 106 30.3 49.1 49.1
Lower costs 8 2.3 3.7 52.8
Price increases 4 1.1 1.9 54.6
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 25 7.1 11.6 66.2
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 9 2.6 4.2 70.4
SEASONAL WEATHER 24 6.9 11.1 81.5
Other 24 6.9 11.1 92.6
DK 16 4.6 7.4 100.0
Total 216 61.7 100.0
Missing System 134 38.3

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 7.1 7.1
Cost increases 2 .6 7.1 14.3
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 1 .3 3.6 17.9
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 7 2.0 25.0 42.9
SEASONAL WEATHER 11 3.1 39.3 82.1
Other 4 1.1 14.3 96.4
DK 1 .3 3.6 100.0
Total 28 8.0 100.0
Missing System 322 92.0

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 41 11.7 11.7 11.7
Taxes 48 13.7 13.7 25.4
Employee quality or costs 42 12.0 12.0 37.4
Insurance 36 10.3 10.3 47.7
Big business competition 33 9.4 9.4 57.1
Inflation and rising prices 54 15.4 15.4 72.6
Credit availability or interest rates 8 2.3 2.3 74.9
Regulations Red tape 42 12.0 12.0 86.9
Other 21 6.0 6.0 92.9
DK 15 4.3 4.3 97.1
Ref 6 1.7 1.7 98.9
NONE NO PROBLEMS 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS9. Which of your total costs are rising most rapidly?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Energy 75 21.4 21.4 21.4
Labor 43 12.3 12.3 33.7
Insurance 93 26.6 26.6 60.3
Materials 96 27.4 27.4 87.7
Some other 15 4.3 4.3 92.0
None rising rapidly 16 4.6 4.6 96.6
DK 9 2.6 2.6 99.1
Refuse 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS13. What has been the impact on your business of the recent run-up in energy prices?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Seriously negative 59 16.9 16.9 16.9
Somewhat negative 100 28.6 28.6 45.4
Slightly negative 98 28.0 28.0 73.4
No impact 72 20.6 20.6 94.0
Positive 8 2.3 2.3 96.3
DK 9 2.6 2.6 98.9
Refuse 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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