Small-Business Conditions

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Northern California Small-Business Conditions, December 2005
12/01/2005

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

Q1. Do you consider the California 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 104 29.7 29.7 32.9
Neutral 100 28.6 28.6 61.4
Not Supportive 66 18.9 18.9 80.3
Not at All Supportive 26 7.4 7.4 87.7
DK 40 11.4 11.4 99.1
Refuse 3 .9 .9 100.0
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 42 12.0 12.0 12.0
Good 150 42.9 42.9 54.9
Just OK 115 32.9 32.9 87.7
Poor 31 8.9 8.9 96.6
Very Poor 7 2.0 2.0 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 21 6.0 6.0 6.0
Slowly Improving 53 15.1 15.1 21.1
Improving 10 2.9 2.9 24.0
Stable 212 60.6 60.6 84.6
Deteriorating 12 3.4 3.4 88.0
Slowly Deteriorating 22 6.3 6.3 94.3
Rapidly Deteriorating 11 3.1 3.1 97.4
DK 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
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 148 42.3 42.3 42.3
No 200 57.1 57.1 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 140 40.0 40.0 40.0
No 206 58.9 58.9 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 125 35.7 35.7 35.7
No 221 63.1 63.1 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 61 17.4 17.4 17.4
No 289 82.6 82.6 100.0
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 70 20.0 20.0 20.0
Fallen 21 6.0 6.0 26.0
Stayed the same 239 68.3 68.3 94.3
DK 18 5.1 5.1 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 177 50.6 50.6 50.6
Benefits 88 25.1 25.1 75.7
Both the same 30 8.6 8.6 84.3
Neither 28 8.0 8.0 92.3
DK 26 7.4 7.4 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 64 18.3 18.3 18.3
Increased Somewhat 113 32.3 32.3 50.6
Increased [no amount] 8 2.3 2.3 52.9
About the Same 149 42.6 42.6 95.4
Decreased [no amount] 3 .9 .9 96.3
Decreased Somewhat 1 .3 .3 96.6
DK 12 3.4 3.4 100.0
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 16 4.6 4.6 4.6
Increased Somewhat 66 18.9 18.9 23.4
Increased [no amount] 8 2.3 2.3 25.7
About the Same 243 69.4 69.4 95.1
Decreased [no amount] 2 .6 .6 95.7
Decreased Somewhat 4 1.1 1.1 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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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. 120 34.3 34.3 34.3
All of my credit needs were NOT satisfied. 20 5.7 5.7 40.0
I did not want to borrow. 179 51.1 51.1 91.1
DK 31 8.9 8.9 100.0
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 48 13.7 13.7 13.7
Good 144 41.1 41.1 54.9
Just OK 105 30.0 30.0 84.9
Poor 33 9.4 9.4 94.3
Very Poor 5 1.4 1.4 95.7
DK 14 4.0 4.0 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 24 6.9 6.9 6.9
Good 124 35.4 35.4 42.3
Just OK 147 42.0 42.0 84.3
Poor 28 8.0 8.0 92.3
Very Poor 7 2.0 2.0 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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Q15. Could you increase sales by 10 percent WITHOUT purchasing new equipment or hiring more employees?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Yes 186 53.1 53.1 53.1
No 136 38.9 38.9 92.0
DK 26 7.4 7.4 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 37 10.6 10.6 10.6
No 301 86.0 86.0 96.6
DK 12 3.4 3.4 100.0
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 80 22.9 22.9 22.9
Good 143 40.9 40.9 63.7
Just OK 91 26.0 26.0 89.7
Poor 15 4.3 4.3 94.0
Very Poor 6 1.7 1.7 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 91 26.0 40.8 40.8
Lower costs 8 2.3 3.6 44.4
Price increases 12 3.4 5.4 49.8
Greater productivity, such as better equipment or a great hi 31 8.9 13.9 63.7
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 8 2.3 3.6 67.3
SEASONAL WEATHER 30 8.6 13.5 80.7
Other 23 6.6 10.3 91.0
DK 18 5.1 8.1 99.1
Ref 2 .6 .9 100.0
Total 223 63.7 100.0
Missing System 127 36.3

Total 350 100.0

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Q19. Why do you think so?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Sales prospects 3 .9 14.3 14.3
Cost increases 2 .6 9.5 23.8
Pressure on selling prices 2 .6 9.5 33.3
Lower productivity, such as loss of a key employee or aging 2 .6 9.5 42.9
Government policies, such as regulations and taxes 4 1.1 19.0 61.9
SEASONAL WEATHER 3 .9 14.3 76.2
Other 4 1.1 19.0 95.2
Ref 1 .3 4.8 100.0
Total 21 6.0 100.0
Missing System 329 94.0

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 32 9.1 9.1 9.1
Taxes 36 10.3 10.3 19.4
Employee quality or costs 41 11.7 11.7 31.1
Insurance 51 14.6 14.6 45.7
Big business competition 46 13.1 13.1 58.9
Inflation and rising prices 36 10.3 10.3 69.1
Credit availability or interest rates 7 2.0 2.0 71.1
Regulations Red tape 30 8.6 8.6 79.7
Other 17 4.9 4.9 84.6
DK 29 8.3 8.3 92.9
Ref 14 4.0 4.0 96.9
NONE NO PROBLEMS 11 3.1 3.1 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS1. In general, how satisfied are you with the direction that California is headed? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied or not at all satisfied?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Very satisfied 22 6.3 6.3 6.3
Somewhat satisfied 142 40.6 40.6 46.9
Not too satisfied 93 26.6 26.6 73.4
Not at all satisfied 62 17.7 17.7 91.1
DK 29 8.3 8.3 99.4
Ref 2 .6 .6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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SS4. Which best describes the role immigrant labor plays in your area?

Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid Provides skills not otherwise available 51 14.6 14.6 14.6
Fills jobs that otherwise wouldn't be filled 106 30.3 30.3 44.9
Crowds out American workers 24 6.9 6.9 51.7
No appreciable role 100 28.6 28.6 80.3
DK 60 17.1 17.1 97.4
Ref 9 2.6 2.6 100.0
Total 350 100.0 100.0
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