Small-Business Conditions

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

View the data below for more information on the Southeast 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 28 8.0 8.0 8.0
Supportive 151 43.1 43.1 51.1
Neutral 89 25.4 25.4 76.6
Not Supportive 37 10.6 10.6 87.1
Not at All Supportive 13 3.7 3.7 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 56 16.0 16.0 16.0
Good 145 41.4 41.4 57.4
Just OK 95 27.1 27.1 84.6
Poor 35 10.0 10.0 94.6
Very Poor 17 4.9 4.9 99.4
DK 1 .3 .3 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 39 11.1 11.1 11.1
Slowly Improving 76 21.7 21.7 32.9
Improving 20 5.7 5.7 38.6
Stable 166 47.4 47.4 86.0
Deteriorating 9 2.6 2.6 88.6
Slowly Deteriorating 23 6.6 6.6 95.1
Rapidly Deteriorating 11 3.1 3.1 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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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 144 41.1 41.1 41.1
No 202 57.7 57.7 98.9
DK 3 .9 .9 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
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 140 40.0 40.0 40.0
No 204 58.3 58.3 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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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 147 42.0 42.0 42.0
No 200 57.1 57.1 99.1
DK 2 .6 .6 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 78 22.3 22.3 22.3
No 268 76.6 76.6 98.9
DK 3 .9 .9 99.7
Ref 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 79 22.6 22.6 22.6
Fallen 24 6.9 6.9 29.4
Stayed the same 231 66.0 66.0 95.4
DK 15 4.3 4.3 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 198 56.6 56.6 56.6
Benefits 91 26.0 26.0 82.6
Both the same 16 4.6 4.6 87.1
Neither 34 9.7 9.7 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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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 91 26.0 26.0 26.0
Increased Somewhat 103 29.4 29.4 55.4
Increased [no amount] 5 1.4 1.4 56.9
About the Same 141 40.3 40.3 97.1
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 97.4
Decreased Somewhat 1 .3 .3 97.7
DK 7 2.0 2.0 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 26 7.4 7.4 7.4
Increased Somewhat 59 16.9 16.9 24.3
Increased [no amount] 6 1.7 1.7 26.0
About the Same 243 69.4 69.4 95.4
Decreased [no amount] 4 1.1 1.1 96.6
Decreased Somewhat 4 1.1 1.1 97.7
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 98.0
DK 3 .9 .9 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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. 28 8.0 8.0 42.0
I did not want to borrow. 190 54.3 54.3 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 58 16.6 16.6 16.6
Good 137 39.1 39.1 55.7
Just OK 112 32.0 32.0 87.7
Poor 34 9.7 9.7 97.4
Very Poor 7 2.0 2.0 99.4
DK 1 .3 .3 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 38 10.9 10.9 10.9
Good 115 32.9 32.9 43.7
Just OK 133 38.0 38.0 81.7
Poor 45 12.9 12.9 94.6
Very Poor 9 2.6 2.6 97.1
DK 10 2.9 2.9 100.0
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 206 58.9 58.9 58.9
No 123 35.1 35.1 94.0
DK 19 5.4 5.4 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 53 15.1 15.1 15.1
No 289 82.6 82.6 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?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 90 25.7 25.7 25.7
Good 151 43.1 43.1 68.9
Just OK 71 20.3 20.3 89.1
Poor 19 5.4 5.4 94.6
Very Poor 4 1.1 1.1 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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Q18. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 128 36.6 53.1 53.1
Lower costs 17 4.9 7.1 60.2
Price increases 9 2.6 3.7 63.9
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 28 8.0 11.6 75.5
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 10 2.9 4.1 79.7
SEASONAL WEATHER 18 5.1 7.5 87.1
Other 20 5.7 8.3 95.4
DK 10 2.9 4.1 99.6
Ref 1 .3 .4 100.0
Total 241 68.9 100.0
Missing System 109 31.1

Total 350 100.0

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Q19. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 5 1.4 21.7 21.7
Cost increases 2 .6 8.7 30.4
Pressure on selling prices 2 .6 8.7 39.1
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 2 .6 8.7 47.8
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 6 1.7 26.1 73.9
SEASONAL WEATHER 2 .6 8.7 82.6
Other 3 .9 13.0 95.7
DK 1 .3 4.3 100.0
Total 23 6.6 100.0
Missing System 327 93.4

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 44 12.6 12.6 12.6
Taxes 39 11.1 11.1 23.7
Employee quality or costs 32 9.1 9.1 32.9
Insurance 37 10.6 10.6 43.4
Big business competition 49 14.0 14.0 57.4
Inflation and rising prices 53 15.1 15.1 72.6
Credit availability or interest rates 10 2.9 2.9 75.4
Regulations Red tape 25 7.1 7.1 82.6
Other 12 3.4 3.4 86.0
DK 23 6.6 6.6 92.6
Ref 5 1.4 1.4 94.0
NONE NO PROBLEMS 21 6.0 6.0 100.0
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 95 27.1 27.1 27.1
Labor 45 12.9 12.9 40.0
Insurance 76 21.7 21.7 61.7
Materials 92 26.3 26.3 88.0
Some other 9 2.6 2.6 90.6
None rising rapidly 11 3.1 3.1 93.7
DK 16 4.6 4.6 98.3
Refuse 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS10. Which of your total costs are rising next most rapidly?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Energy 90 25.7 27.8 27.8
Labor 65 18.6 20.1 47.8
Insurance 68 19.4 21.0 68.8
Materials 69 19.7 21.3 90.1
Some other 9 2.6 2.8 92.9
None rising rapidly 10 2.9 3.1 96.0
DK 11 3.1 3.4 99.4
Refuse 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 324 92.6 100.0
Missing System 26 7.4

Total 350 100.0

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