Southland Business Chamber - Business Confidence Survey

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* 1. Where is your business based?

Invercargill

Eastern Southland

Fiordland (including Manapouri, Te Anau and Milford Sound) businesses,

Western Southland

Other (please specify)

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* 2. Do you consider that the general business situation in New Zealand will improve, remain the same, or deteriorate during the next six months?

Improve

Same

Deteriorate

Unsure

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* 3. Do you anticipate that the general situation in your business will improve, remain the same or deteriorate during the next six months?

Improve

Same

Deteriorate

Unsure

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* 4. In general, do you find that getting the skilled/specialist staff you want today is easier, the same, or harder than it was three months ago?

Easier

Same

Harder

N/A

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* 5. In general, do you find that getting the unskilled staff you want today is easier, the same, or harder than it was three months ago?

Easier

Same

Harder

N/A

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* 6. What single factor is most limiting your ability to expand your activities?

Capacity

Demand

Finance

Labour

Supplies

Other (please specify)

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* 7. Do you expect interest rates charged on loans to move up/same/down over the next twelve months?

Same

Down

Unsure

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* 8. Do you expect investment by your firm to be up/same/down over the next twelve months?

Same

Down

Unsure

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* 9. Excluding normal seasonal changes, what has been your firm's experience during the past three months?

	Up	Same	Down	Unsure
Number of full-time employees	Number of full-time employees Up	Number of full-time employees Same	Number of full-time employees Down	Number of full-time employees Unsure
Number of part-time employees	Number of part-time employees Up	Number of part-time employees Same	Number of part-time employees Down	Number of part-time employees Unsure
Total hours worked	Total hours worked Up	Total hours worked Same	Total hours worked Down	Total hours worked Unsure
Labour turnover	Labour turnover Up	Labour turnover Same	Labour turnover Down	Labour turnover Unsure
Average costs	Average costs Up	Average costs Same	Average costs Down	Average costs Unsure
Average selling prices	Average selling prices Up	Average selling prices Same	Average selling prices Down	Average selling prices Unsure
Profitability	Profitability Up	Profitability Same	Profitability Down	Profitability Unsure
Sales in New Zealand	Sales in New Zealand Up	Sales in New Zealand Same	Sales in New Zealand Down	Sales in New Zealand Unsure
Export sales	Export sales Up	Export sales Same	Export sales Down	Export sales Unsure

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* 10. Excluding normal seasonal changes, what do you expect in the next three months?

	Up	Same	Down	Unsure
Number of full-time employees	Number of full-time employees Up	Number of full-time employees Same	Number of full-time employees Down	Number of full-time employees Unsure
Number of part-time employees	Number of part-time employees Up	Number of part-time employees Same	Number of part-time employees Down	Number of part-time employees Unsure
Total hours worked	Total hours worked Up	Total hours worked Same	Total hours worked Down	Total hours worked Unsure
Labour turnover	Labour turnover Up	Labour turnover Same	Labour turnover Down	Labour turnover Unsure
Average costs	Average costs Up	Average costs Same	Average costs Down	Average costs Unsure
Average selling prices	Average selling prices Up	Average selling prices Same	Average selling prices Down	Average selling prices Unsure
Profitability	Profitability Up	Profitability Same	Profitability Down	Profitability Unsure
Sales in New Zealand	Sales in New Zealand Up	Sales in New Zealand Same	Sales in New Zealand Down	Sales in New Zealand Unsure
Export sales	Export sales Up	Export sales Same	Export sales Down	Export sales Unsure

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* 11. What average level of wage increases (%) have you given your staff over the past twelve months?

1-2%

3-5%

6-7%

8-9%

10% +

N/A

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* 12. What average level of wage increases (%) are you expecting to offer to your staff over the next twelve months?

1-2%

3-5%

6-7%

8-9%

10% +

N/A

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* 13. Which of the following has had the largest effect on your profitability over the last six months?

Supply chain

Exchange rates

Fuel costs

Interest rates

Energy costs

Inflation

Staff costs

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Which of the following rates as your highest area of concern over the next six months?

Supply chain

Fuel costs

Exchange rates

Interest rates

Inflation

Energy costs

Staff costs

Other (please specify)

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* 15. What are the top 3 areas your business could use support in?

Restructuring advice

Financial assistance

Marketing and design

Cost reduction

Staffing or HR

Creative or commercial consulting / advice

New product development

Other (please specify)