In the light of world events over the last few weeks, the October survey sets out to assess the impact of increased economic uncertainty upon different aspects of your business experience and strategies.
To what extent do you feel that the positive effect of recent interest rate reductions will counterbalance the negative impact of more uncertain trading conditions?
Over the next 3 months, do you expect your business to:
(1) To what extent have you seen an increase in the incidence of bad debts?
Response
Total answers: 137
%
1. Significant
3.6%
2.
10.2%
3.
20.4%
4.
19%
5. Insignificant
46.7%
(2) To what extent have you seen an increase in delayed payment by customers?
Response
Total answers: 137
%
1. Significant
7.3%
2.
26.3%
3.
27%
4.
16.1%
5. Insignificant
23.4%
(3) To what extent have you had to place more emphasis on controlling liquidity / working capital?
Response
Total answers: 137
%
1. Significant
21.2%
2.
24.8%
3.
23.4%
4.
15.3%
5. Insignificant
15.3%
(4) To what extent have you postponed any investment in plant and equipment?
Response
Total answers: 137
%
1. Significant
10.2%
2.
15.3%
3.
16.1%
4.
15.3%
5. Insignificant
24.1%
6. Not applicable
19%
(5) To what extent have you revised output prices?
Response
Total answers: 137
%
1. Significantly downwards
0.7%
2. Slightly downwards
15.3%
3. No change
56.9%
4. Slightly upwards
20.4%
5. Significantly upwards
0.0%
6. Not applicable
6.6%
(6) To whom do you most naturally turn for advice when trading conditions suddenly become more uncertain?
Response
Total answers: 137
%
1. Accountant
15.3%
2. Bank manager
4.4%
3. Business colleagues within the firm
33.6%
4. Business colleagues outside the firm
16.1%
5. Family and friends
2.2%
6. Trade association or other representative organisation
11.7%
7. Nobody in particular
16.8%
(7) To what extent do you feel that the positive effect of recent interest rate reductions will counterbalance the negative impact of more uncertain trading conditions?
Response
Total answers: 137
%
1. Significant
4.4%
2.
13.1%
3.
26.3%
4.
29.9%
5. Insignificant
26.3%
(8) To what extent is your business constrained by skill shortages?
Response
Total answers: 137
%
1 Highly
11.7%
2
16.8%
3
27%
4
21.9%
5 Not at all
22.6%
(9) To what extent is your business constrained by a lack of finance?
Response
Total answers: 137
%
1 Highly
16.1%
2
21.2%
3
21.2%
4
17.5%
5 Not at all
24.1%
(10) To what extent is your business constrained by low market demand?
Response
Total answers: 137
%
1 Highly
19.7%
2
24.1%
3
25.5%
4
21.2%
5 Not at all
9.5%
(11) Over the last 3 months, has your business:-
Response
Total answers: 137
%
Expanded significantly (more than 10%)
8%
Expanded somewhat (between 5% to 10%)
33.6%
Remained static
31.4%
Declined somewhat (between 5% to 10%)
20.4%
Declined significantly (more than 10%)
6.6%
(12) Over the next 3 months, do you expect your business to:
