Small-Business Conditions

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

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

Q1. Do you consider the Massachusetts 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 19 5.2 5.2 5.2
Supportive 129 35.6 35.6 40.9
Neutral 107 29.6 29.6 70.4
Not Supportive 50 13.8 13.8 84.3
Not at All Supportive 25 6.9 6.9 91.2
DK 29 8.0 8.0 99.2
Refuse 3 .8 .8 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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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 34 9.4 9.4 9.4
Good 145 40.1 40.1 49.4
Just OK 124 34.3 34.3 83.7
Poor 45 12.4 12.4 96.1
Very Poor 10 2.8 2.8 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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Q3. Are they improving, deteriorating, or more or less stable?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Rapidly Improving 16 4.4 4.4 4.4
Slowly Improving 40 11.0 11.0 15.5
Improving 18 5.0 5.0 20.4
Stable 218 60.2 60.2 80.7
Deteriorating 11 3.0 3.0 83.7
Slowly Deteriorating 39 10.8 10.8 94.5
Rapidly Deteriorating 9 2.5 2.5 97.0
DK 10 2.8 2.8 99.7
Refuse 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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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 146 40.3 40.3 40.3
No 212 58.6 58.6 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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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 135 37.3 37.3 37.3
No 223 61.6 61.6 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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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 130 35.9 35.9 35.9
No 228 63.0 63.0 98.9
DK 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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Q7. Do you currently have one or more job openings?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 78 21.5 21.5 21.5
No 283 78.2 78.2 99.7
DK 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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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 63 17.4 17.4 17.4
Fallen 27 7.5 7.5 24.9
Stayed the same 256 70.7 70.7 95.6
DK 14 3.9 3.9 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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Q9. Which cost pressures are greater for your business...

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Wages 167 46.1 46.1 46.1
Benefits 127 35.1 35.1 81.2
Both the same 29 8.0 8.0 89.2
Neither 23 6.4 6.4 95.6
DK 16 4.4 4.4 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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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 79 21.8 21.8 21.8
Increased Somewhat 106 29.3 29.3 51.1
Increased [no amount] 15 4.1 4.1 55.2
About the Same 142 39.2 39.2 94.5
Decreased [no amount] 4 1.1 1.1 95.6
Decreased Somewhat 3 .8 .8 96.4
Decreased a Lot 1 .3 .3 96.7
DK 11 3.0 3.0 99.7
Ref 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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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 5.8 5.8 5.8
Increased Somewhat 62 17.1 17.1 22.9
Increased [no amount] 13 3.6 3.6 26.5
About the Same 239 66.0 66.0 92.5
Decreased [no amount] 2 .6 .6 93.1
Decreased Somewhat 11 3.0 3.0 96.1
Decreased a Lot 3 .8 .8 97.0
DK 8 2.2 2.2 99.2
Ref 3 .8 .8 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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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. 125 34.5 34.5 34.5
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 31 8.6 8.6 43.1
I did not want to borrow. 181 50.0 50.0 93.1
DK 21 5.8 5.8 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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Q13. Over the last three months, have sales been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 39 10.8 10.8 10.8
Good 140 38.7 38.7 49.4
Just OK 126 34.8 34.8 84.3
Poor 30 8.3 8.3 92.5
Very Poor 9 2.5 2.5 95.0
DK 13 3.6 3.6 98.6
Ref 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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Q14. Over the last three months, have profits been...?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very Good 31 8.6 8.6 8.6
Good 109 30.1 30.1 38.7
Just OK 156 43.1 43.1 81.8
Poor 46 12.7 12.7 94.5
Very Poor 9 2.5 2.5 97.0
DK 7 1.9 1.9 98.9
Ref 4 1.1 1.1 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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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 192 53.0 53.0 53.0
No 139 38.4 38.4 91.4
DK 26 7.2 7.2 98.6
Ref 5 1.4 1.4 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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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 36 9.9 9.9 9.9
No 313 86.5 86.5 96.4
DK 10 2.8 2.8 99.2
Ref 3 .8 .8 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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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 20.7 20.7 20.7
Good 159 43.9 43.9 64.6
Just OK 102 28.2 28.2 92.8
Poor 13 3.6 3.6 96.4
Very Poor 4 1.1 1.1 97.5
DK 7 1.9 1.9 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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Q18. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 115 31.8 49.1 49.1
Lower costs 11 3.0 4.7 53.8
Price increases 9 2.5 3.8 57.7
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 32 8.8 13.7 71.4
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 14 3.9 6.0 77.4
SEASONAL WEATHER 11 3.0 4.7 82.1
Other 26 7.2 11.1 93.2
DK 15 4.1 6.4 99.6
Ref 1 .3 .4 100.0
Total 234 64.6 100.0
Missing System 128 35.4

Total 362 100.0

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Q19. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 2 .6 11.8 11.8
Cost increases 5 1.4 29.4 41.2
Pressure on selling prices 1 .3 5.9 47.1
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 1 .3 5.9 52.9
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 2 .6 11.8 64.7
SEASONAL WEATHER 4 1.1 23.5 88.2
Other 1 .3 5.9 94.1
DK 1 .3 5.9 100.0
Total 17 4.7 100.0
Missing System 345 95.3

Total 362 100.0

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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 36 9.9 9.9 9.9
Taxes 44 12.2 12.2 22.1
Employee quality or costs 35 9.7 9.7 31.8
Insurance 60 16.6 16.6 48.3
Big business competition 43 11.9 11.9 60.2
Inflation and rising prices 53 14.6 14.6 74.9
Credit availability or interest rates 17 4.7 4.7 79.6
Regulations Red tape 19 5.2 5.2 84.8
Other 19 5.2 5.2 90.1
DK 12 3.3 3.3 93.4
Ref 9 2.5 2.5 95.9
NONE NO PROBLEMS 15 4.1 4.1 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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SS13. What has been the impact on your business of the recent run-up in energy prices?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Seriously negative 70 19.3 19.3 19.3
Somewhat negative 71 19.6 19.6 39.0
Slightly negative 94 26.0 26.0 64.9
No impact 94 26.0 26.0 90.9
Positive 12 3.3 3.3 94.2
DK 13 3.6 3.6 97.8
Refuse 8 2.2 2.2 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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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 55 15.2 15.2 15.2
Invested in energy-conserving equipment or vehicles 28 7.7 7.7 22.9
Reduced energy use 86 23.8 23.8 46.7
Absorbed costs with lower earnings 50 13.8 13.8 60.5
Reduced non_energy costs such as payroll 26 7.2 7.2 67.7
Other 37 10.2 10.2 77.9
DK 68 18.8 18.8 96.7
Refuse 12 3.3 3.3 100.0
Total 362 100.0 100.0
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