Small-Business Conditions

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

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

Q1. Do you consider the Oregon 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 114 32.6 32.6 35.7
Neutral 121 34.6 34.6 70.3
Not Supportive 47 13.4 13.4 83.7
Not at All Supportive 28 8.0 8.0 91.7
DK 28 8.0 8.0 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 48 13.7 13.7 13.7
Good 137 39.1 39.1 52.9
Just OK 122 34.9 34.9 87.7
Poor 32 9.1 9.1 96.9
Very Poor 9 2.6 2.6 99.4
DK 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 25 7.1 7.1 7.1
Slowly Improving 60 17.1 17.1 24.3
Improving 15 4.3 4.3 28.6
Stable 196 56.0 56.0 84.6
Deteriorating 10 2.9 2.9 87.4
Slowly Deteriorating 29 8.3 8.3 95.7
Rapidly Deteriorating 9 2.6 2.6 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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 165 47.1 47.1 47.1
No 183 52.3 52.3 99.4
DK 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 174 49.7 49.7 49.7
No 173 49.4 49.4 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 164 46.9 46.9 46.9
No 182 52.0 52.0 98.9
DK 2 .6 .6 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
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 67 19.1 19.1 19.1
No 283 80.9 80.9 100.0
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 89 25.4 25.4 25.4
Fallen 17 4.9 4.9 30.3
Stayed the same 230 65.7 65.7 96.0
DK 12 3.4 3.4 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 196 56.0 56.0 56.0
Benefits 84 24.0 24.0 80.0
Both the same 23 6.6 6.6 86.6
Neither 31 8.9 8.9 95.4
DK 11 3.1 3.1 98.6
Ref 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
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 97 27.7 27.7 27.7
Increased Somewhat 112 32.0 32.0 59.7
Increased [no amount] 18 5.1 5.1 64.9
About the Same 115 32.9 32.9 97.7
Decreased [no amount] 1 .3 .3 98.0
Decreased Somewhat 1 .3 .3 98.3
DK 4 1.1 1.1 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 12 3.4 3.4 3.4
Increased Somewhat 83 23.7 23.7 27.1
Increased [no amount] 9 2.6 2.6 29.7
About the Same 226 64.6 64.6 94.3
Decreased [no amount] 2 .6 .6 94.9
Decreased Somewhat 5 1.4 1.4 96.3
Decreased a Lot 4 1.1 1.1 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. 15 4.3 4.3 38.9
I did not want to borrow. 194 55.4 55.4 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 59 16.9 16.9 16.9
Good 157 44.9 44.9 61.7
Just OK 92 26.3 26.3 88.0
Poor 31 8.9 8.9 96.9
Very Poor 5 1.4 1.4 98.3
DK 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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 29 8.3 8.3 8.3
Good 135 38.6 38.6 46.9
Just OK 136 38.9 38.9 85.7
Poor 34 9.7 9.7 95.4
Very Poor 8 2.3 2.3 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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Q15. Could you increase sales by 10 percent WITHOUT purchasing new equipment or hiring more employees?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 219 62.6 62.6 62.6
No 114 32.6 32.6 95.1
DK 16 4.6 4.6 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 40 11.4 11.4 11.4
No 302 86.3 86.3 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 75 21.4 21.4 21.4
Good 168 48.0 48.0 69.4
Just OK 73 20.9 20.9 90.3
Poor 24 6.9 6.9 97.1
Very Poor 3 .9 .9 98.0
DK 5 1.4 1.4 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 112 32.0 46.1 46.1
Lower costs 7 2.0 2.9 49.0
Price increases 7 2.0 2.9 51.9
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 29 8.3 11.9 63.8
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 5 1.4 2.1 65.8
SEASONAL WEATHER 37 10.6 15.2 81.1
Other 25 7.1 10.3 91.4
DK 21 6.0 8.6 100.0
Total 243 69.4 100.0
Missing System 107 30.6

Total 350 100.0

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Q19. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 7 2.0 25.9 25.9
Cost increases 3 .9 11.1 37.0
Pressure on selling prices 1 .3 3.7 40.7
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 2 .6 7.4 48.1
SEASONAL WEATHER 9 2.6 33.3 81.5
Other 4 1.1 14.8 96.3
Ref 1 .3 3.7 100.0
Total 27 7.7 100.0
Missing System 323 92.3

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 39 11.1 11.1 11.1
Taxes 33 9.4 9.4 20.6
Employee quality or costs 50 14.3 14.3 34.9
Insurance 51 14.6 14.6 49.4
Big business competition 31 8.9 8.9 58.3
Inflation and rising prices 59 16.9 16.9 75.1
Credit availability or interest rates 9 2.6 2.6 77.7
Regulations Red tape 29 8.3 8.3 86.0
Other 20 5.7 5.7 91.7
DK 18 5.1 5.1 96.9
Ref 5 1.4 1.4 98.3
NONE NO PROBLEMS 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
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 69 19.7 19.7 19.7
Labor 49 14.0 14.0 33.7
Insurance 107 30.6 30.6 64.3
Materials 93 26.6 26.6 90.9
Some other 7 2.0 2.0 92.9
None rising rapidly 10 2.9 2.9 95.7
DK 12 3.4 3.4 99.1
Refuse 3 .9 .9 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS14. What is the single most important action you have recently taken to offset rising energy costs?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Raised selling prices 49 14.0 14.0 14.0
Invested in energy-conserving equipment or vehicles 31 8.9 8.9 22.9
Reduced energy use 81 23.1 23.1 46.0
Absorbed costs with lower earnings 71 20.3 20.3 66.3
Reduced non_energy costs such as payroll 27 7.7 7.7 74.0
Other 37 10.6 10.6 84.6
DK 48 13.7 13.7 98.3
Refuse 6 1.7 1.7 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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