Small-Business Conditions

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Northeast Texas Small-Business Conditions, December 2005
12/01/2005

View the data below for more information on the Northeast Texas Small-Business ConditionsTM survey from November 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 37 10.5 10.5 10.5
Supportive 127 36.2 36.2 46.7
Neutral 115 32.8 32.8 79.5
Not Supportive 34 9.7 9.7 89.2
Not at All Supportive 14 4.0 4.0 93.2
DK 22 6.3 6.3 99.4
Refuse 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 49 14.0 14.0 14.0
Good 157 44.7 44.7 58.7
Just OK 95 27.1 27.1 85.8
Poor 34 9.7 9.7 95.4
Very Poor 13 3.7 3.7 99.1
DK 2 .6 .6 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q3. Are they improving, deteriorating, or more or less stable?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Rapidly Improving 35 10.0 10.0 10.0
Slowly Improving 53 15.1 15.1 25.1
Improving 25 7.1 7.1 32.2
Stable 179 51.0 51.0 83.2
Deteriorating 16 4.6 4.6 87.7
Slowly Deteriorating 23 6.6 6.6 94.3
Rapidly Deteriorating 12 3.4 3.4 97.7
DK 6 1.7 1.7 99.4
Refuse 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 173 49.3 49.3 49.3
No 178 50.7 50.7 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 152 43.3 43.3 43.3
No 194 55.3 55.3 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 153 43.6 43.6 43.6
No 197 56.1 56.1 99.7
DK 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q7. Do you currently have one or more job openings?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 69 19.7 19.7 19.7
No 282 80.3 80.3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 78 22.2 22.2 22.2
Fallen 16 4.6 4.6 26.8
Stayed the same 250 71.2 71.2 98.0
DK 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q9. Which cost pressures are greater for your business...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages 202 57.5 57.5 57.5
Benefits 88 25.1 25.1 82.6
Both the same 13 3.7 3.7 86.3
Neither 35 10.0 10.0 96.3
DK 13 3.7 3.7 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 96 27.4 27.4 27.4
Increased Somewhat 109 31.1 31.1 58.4
Increased [no amount] 19 5.4 5.4 63.8
About the Same 120 34.2 34.2 98.0
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 98.3
Decreased Somewhat 1 .3 .3 98.6
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 21 6.0 6.0 6.0
Increased Somewhat 49 14.0 14.0 19.9
Increased [no amount] 6 1.7 1.7 21.7
About the Same 251 71.5 71.5 93.2
Decreased [no amount] 5 1.4 1.4 94.6
Decreased Somewhat 10 2.8 2.8 97.4
Decreased a Lot 3 .9 .9 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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. 140 39.9 39.9 39.9
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 22 6.3 6.3 46.2
I did not want to borrow. 180 51.3 51.3 97.4
DK 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q13. Over the last three months, have sales been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 53 15.1 15.1 15.1
Good 146 41.6 41.6 56.7
Just OK 106 30.2 30.2 86.9
Poor 29 8.3 8.3 95.2
Very Poor 11 3.1 3.1 98.3
DK 5 1.4 1.4 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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Q14. Over the last three months, have profits been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 30 8.5 8.5 8.5
Good 141 40.2 40.2 48.7
Just OK 115 32.8 32.8 81.5
Poor 38 10.8 10.8 92.3
Very Poor 15 4.3 4.3 96.6
DK 9 2.6 2.6 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 206 58.7 58.7 58.7
No 119 33.9 33.9 92.6
DK 26 7.4 7.4 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 45 12.8 12.8 12.8
No 299 85.2 85.2 98.0
DK 7 2.0 2.0 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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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 86 24.5 24.5 24.5
Good 165 47.0 47.0 71.5
Just OK 71 20.2 20.2 91.7
Poor 18 5.1 5.1 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 351 100.0 100.0
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Q18. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 104 29.6 41.4 41.4
Lower costs 6 1.7 2.4 43.8
Price increases 14 4.0 5.6 49.4
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 42 12.0 16.7 66.1
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 10 2.8 4.0 70.1
SEASONAL WEATHER 26 7.4 10.4 80.5
Other 28 8.0 11.2 91.6
DK 21 6.0 8.4 100.0
Total 251 71.5 100.0
Missing System 100 28.5

Total 351 100.0

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Q19. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 3 .9 12.5 12.5
Cost increases 4 1.1 16.7 29.2
Pressure on selling prices 2 .6 8.3 37.5
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 4 1.1 16.7 54.2
SEASONAL WEATHER 5 1.4 20.8 75.0
Other 3 .9 12.5 87.5
DK 3 .9 12.5 100.0
Total 24 6.8 100.0
Missing System 327 93.2

Total 351 100.0

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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 44 12.5 12.5 12.5
Taxes 32 9.1 9.1 21.7
Employee quality or costs 29 8.3 8.3 29.9
Insurance 42 12.0 12.0 41.9
Big business competition 51 14.5 14.5 56.4
Inflation and rising prices 58 16.5 16.5 72.9
Credit availability or interest rates 15 4.3 4.3 77.2
Regulations Red tape 32 9.1 9.1 86.3
Other 20 5.7 5.7 92.0
DK 13 3.7 3.7 95.7
Ref 5 1.4 1.4 97.2
NONE NO PROBLEMS 10 2.8 2.8 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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SS9. Which of your total costs are rising most rapidly?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Energy 94 26.8 26.8 26.8
Labor 42 12.0 12.0 38.7
Insurance 85 24.2 24.2 63.0
Materials 90 25.6 25.6 88.6
Some other 20 5.7 5.7 94.3
None rising rapidly 8 2.3 2.3 96.6
DK 10 2.8 2.8 99.4
Refuse 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 351 100.0 100.0
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SS10. Which of your total costs are rising next most rapidly?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Energy 99 28.2 29.2 29.2
Labor 51 14.5 15.0 44.2
Insurance 67 19.1 19.8 64.0
Materials 69 19.7 20.4 84.4
Some other 23 6.6 6.8 91.2
None rising rapidly 15 4.3 4.4 95.6
DK 14 4.0 4.1 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 339 96.6 100.0
Missing System 12 3.4

Total 351 100.0

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