Small-Business Conditions

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

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

Q1. Do you consider the Pennsylvania 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 101 28.9 28.9 32.0
Neutral 110 31.4 31.4 63.4
Not Supportive 67 19.1 19.1 82.6
Not at All Supportive 22 6.3 6.3 88.9
DK 38 10.9 10.9 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 32 9.1 9.1 9.1
Good 130 37.1 37.1 46.3
Just OK 107 30.6 30.6 76.9
Poor 61 17.4 17.4 94.3
Very Poor 15 4.3 4.3 98.6
DK 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
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 13 3.7 3.7 3.7
Slowly Improving 36 10.3 10.3 14.0
Improving 18 5.1 5.1 19.1
Stable 209 59.7 59.7 78.9
Deteriorating 15 4.3 4.3 83.1
Slowly Deteriorating 41 11.7 11.7 94.9
Rapidly Deteriorating 14 4.0 4.0 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 145 41.4 41.4 41.4
No 201 57.4 57.4 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 164 46.9 46.9 46.9
No 182 52.0 52.0 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 140 40.0 40.0 40.0
No 206 58.9 58.9 98.9
DK 3 .9 .9 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 64 18.3 18.3 18.3
No 283 80.9 80.9 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 79 22.6 22.6 22.6
Fallen 19 5.4 5.4 28.0
Stayed the same 236 67.4 67.4 95.4
DK 14 4.0 4.0 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 147 42.0 42.0 42.0
Benefits 126 36.0 36.0 78.0
Both the same 26 7.4 7.4 85.4
Neither 31 8.9 8.9 94.3
DK 19 5.4 5.4 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 90 25.7 25.7 25.7
Increased Somewhat 126 36.0 36.0 61.7
Increased [no amount] 14 4.0 4.0 65.7
About the Same 105 30.0 30.0 95.7
Decreased [no amount] 2 .6 .6 96.3
Decreased Somewhat 6 1.7 1.7 98.0
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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 13 3.7 3.7 3.7
Increased Somewhat 51 14.6 14.6 18.3
Increased [no amount] 15 4.3 4.3 22.6
About the Same 251 71.7 71.7 94.3
Decreased [no amount] 2 .6 .6 94.9
Decreased Somewhat 5 1.4 1.4 96.3
Decreased a Lot 3 .9 .9 97.1
DK 7 2.0 2.0 99.1
Ref 3 .9 .9 100.0
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. 130 37.1 37.1 37.1
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 27 7.7 7.7 44.9
I did not want to borrow. 173 49.4 49.4 94.3
DK 17 4.9 4.9 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 52 14.9 14.9 14.9
Good 128 36.6 36.6 51.4
Just OK 108 30.9 30.9 82.3
Poor 44 12.6 12.6 94.9
Very Poor 7 2.0 2.0 96.9
DK 8 2.3 2.3 99.1
Ref 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 30 8.6 8.6 8.6
Good 105 30.0 30.0 38.6
Just OK 127 36.3 36.3 74.9
Poor 58 16.6 16.6 91.4
Very Poor 18 5.1 5.1 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 181 51.7 51.7 51.7
No 143 40.9 40.9 92.6
DK 22 6.3 6.3 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
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 26 7.4 7.4 7.4
No 315 90.0 90.0 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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Q17. What are the prospects for your business over the next several months?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 64 18.3 18.3 18.3
Good 133 38.0 38.0 56.3
Just OK 108 30.9 30.9 87.1
Poor 30 8.6 8.6 95.7
Very Poor 5 1.4 1.4 97.1
DK 10 2.9 2.9 100.0
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 88 25.1 44.7 44.7
Lower costs 10 2.9 5.1 49.7
Price increases 12 3.4 6.1 55.8
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 22 6.3 11.2 67.0
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 9 2.6 4.6 71.6
SEASONAL WEATHER 23 6.6 11.7 83.2
Other 19 5.4 9.6 92.9
DK 14 4.0 7.1 100.0
Total 197 56.3 100.0
Missing System 153 43.7

Total 350 100.0

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Q19. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 6 1.7 17.1 17.1
Cost increases 8 2.3 22.9 40.0
Pressure on selling prices 2 .6 5.7 45.7
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 1 .3 2.9 48.6
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 4 1.1 11.4 60.0
SEASONAL WEATHER 7 2.0 20.0 80.0
Other 6 1.7 17.1 97.1
DK 1 .3 2.9 100.0
Total 35 10.0 100.0
Missing System 315 90.0

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 33 9.4 9.4 9.4
Taxes 40 11.4 11.4 20.9
Employee quality or costs 29 8.3 8.3 29.1
Insurance 58 16.6 16.6 45.7
Big business competition 53 15.1 15.1 60.9
Inflation and rising prices 49 14.0 14.0 74.9
Credit availability or interest rates 12 3.4 3.4 78.3
Regulations Red tape 30 8.6 8.6 86.9
Other 22 6.3 6.3 93.1
DK 7 2.0 2.0 95.1
Ref 12 3.4 3.4 98.6
NONE NO PROBLEMS 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
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 100 28.6 28.6 28.6
Labor 45 12.9 12.9 41.4
Insurance 109 31.1 31.1 72.6
Materials 54 15.4 15.4 88.0
Some other 17 4.9 4.9 92.9
None rising rapidly 7 2.0 2.0 94.9
DK 16 4.6 4.6 99.4
Refuse 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 80 22.9 23.2 23.2
Labor 39 11.1 11.3 34.5
Insurance 84 24.0 24.3 58.8
Materials 94 26.9 27.2 86.1
Some other 16 4.6 4.6 90.7
None rising rapidly 12 3.4 3.5 94.2
DK 11 3.1 3.2 97.4
Refuse 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
Total 345 98.6 100.0
Missing System 5 1.4

Total 350 100.0

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