Small-Business Conditions

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Central California Small-Business Conditions, December 2005
12/01/2005

View the data below for more information on the Central California Small-Business ConditionsSM survey for November 2005. 

 
Q1. Do you consider the California 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 11 3.1 3.1 3.1
Supportive 117 33.4 33.4 36.6
Neutral 92 26.3 26.3 62.9
Not Supportive 64 18.3 18.3 81.1
Not at All Supportive 31 8.9 8.9 90.0
DK 34 9.7 9.7 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 44 12.6 12.6 12.6
Good 153 43.7 43.7 56.3
Just OK 107 30.6 30.6 86.9
Poor 25 7.1 7.1 94.0
Very Poor 15 4.3 4.3 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 26 7.4 7.4 7.4
Slowly Improving 61 17.4 17.4 24.9
Improving 13 3.7 3.7 28.6
Stable 191 54.6 54.6 83.1
Deteriorating 11 3.1 3.1 86.3
Slowly Deteriorating 33 9.4 9.4 95.7
Rapidly Deteriorating 10 2.9 2.9 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
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 161 46.0 46.0 46.0
No 182 52.0 52.0 98.0
DK 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
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 141 40.3 40.3 40.3
No 205 58.6 58.6 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 146 41.7 41.7 41.7
No 200 57.1 57.1 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 65 18.6 18.6 18.6
No 282 80.6 80.6 99.1
DK 3 .9 .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 69 19.7 19.7 19.7
Fallen 17 4.9 4.9 24.6
Stayed the same 243 69.4 69.4 94.0
DK 17 4.9 4.9 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 175 50.0 50.0 50.0
Benefits 91 26.0 26.0 76.0
Both the same 30 8.6 8.6 84.6
Neither 40 11.4 11.4 96.0
DK 14 4.0 4.0 100.0
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 82 23.4 23.4 23.4
Increased Somewhat 113 32.3 32.3 55.7
Increased [no amount] 9 2.6 2.6 58.3
About the Same 131 37.4 37.4 95.7
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 96.0
Decreased Somewhat 4 1.1 1.1 97.1
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 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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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 17 4.9 4.9 4.9
Increased Somewhat 57 16.3 16.3 21.1
Increased [no amount] 7 2.0 2.0 23.1
About the Same 240 68.6 68.6 91.7
Decreased [no amount] 2 .6 .6 92.3
Decreased Somewhat 11 3.1 3.1 95.4
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 95.7
DK 14 4.0 4.0 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. 139 39.7 39.7 39.7
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 29 8.3 8.3 48.0
I did not want to borrow. 165 47.1 47.1 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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Q13. Over the last three months, have sales been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 55 15.7 15.7 15.7
Good 148 42.3 42.3 58.0
Just OK 108 30.9 30.9 88.9
Poor 16 4.6 4.6 93.4
Very Poor 9 2.6 2.6 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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Q14. Over the last three months, have profits been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 34 9.7 9.7 9.7
Good 130 37.1 37.1 46.9
Just OK 124 35.4 35.4 82.3
Poor 39 11.1 11.1 93.4
Very Poor 11 3.1 3.1 96.6
DK 11 3.1 3.1 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 185 52.9 52.9 52.9
No 140 40.0 40.0 92.9
DK 24 6.9 6.9 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 44 12.6 12.6 12.6
No 296 84.6 84.6 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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Q17. What are the prospects for your business over the next several months?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 83 23.7 23.7 23.7
Good 147 42.0 42.0 65.7
Just OK 99 28.3 28.3 94.0
Poor 10 2.9 2.9 96.9
Very Poor 2 .6 .6 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 94 26.9 40.9 40.9
Lower costs 15 4.3 6.5 47.4
Price increases 11 3.1 4.8 52.2
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 39 11.1 17.0 69.1
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 17 4.9 7.4 76.5
SEASONAL WEATHER 20 5.7 8.7 85.2
Other 22 6.3 9.6 94.8
DK 12 3.4 5.2 100.0
Total 230 65.7 100.0
Missing System 120 34.3

Total 350 100.0

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Q19. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 3 .9 25.0 25.0
Cost increases 2 .6 16.7 41.7
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 3 .9 25.0 66.7
Other 1 .3 8.3 75.0
DK 3 .9 25.0 100.0
Total 12 3.4 100.0
Missing System 338 96.6

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 39 11.1 11.1 20.0
Employee quality or costs 47 13.4 13.4 33.4
Insurance 58 16.6 16.6 50.0
Big business competition 41 11.7 11.7 61.7
Inflation and rising prices 39 11.1 11.1 72.9
Credit availability or interest rates 11 3.1 3.1 76.0
Regulations Red tape 30 8.6 8.6 84.6
Other 16 4.6 4.6 89.1
DK 17 4.9 4.9 94.0
Ref 12 3.4 3.4 97.4
NONE NO PROBLEMS 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS1. In general, how satisfied are you with the direction that California is headed? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied or not at all satisfied?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very satisfied 26 7.4 7.4 7.4
Somewhat satisfied 127 36.3 36.3 43.7
Not too satisfied 107 30.6 30.6 74.3
Not at all satisfied 65 18.6 18.6 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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SS4. Which best describes the role immigrant labor plays in your area?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Provides skills not otherwise available 44 12.6 12.6 12.6
Fills jobs that otherwise wouldn't be filled 126 36.0 36.0 48.6
Crowds out American workers 33 9.4 9.4 58.0
No appreciable role 79 22.6 22.6 80.6
DK 57 16.3 16.3 96.9
Ref 11 3.1 3.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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