WBA Business Confidence Survey for 2020

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* 2. Where is your business located? (Choose one)

City of Bellingham

In Bellingham, but outside Bellingham city limits

Other city in Whatcom County

Unincorporated Whatcom County

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* 3. Where do you do business? (Check all that apply)

Locally

Regionally (WA State)

Nationally

Internationally

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* 4. How have your business revenues changed over the LAST 12 months relative to the previous 12 months?

Up Over 10%

Up 5–10%

About the same

Down 5–10%

Down 10% or more

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* 5. How do you expect your revenues to change in the NEXT 12 months compared to the last 12 months?

Up Over 10%

Up 5–10%

About the same

Down 5–10%

Down 10% or more

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* 6. Where do you expect your business profits to be in 2019 relative to 2018?

Up Over 10%

Up 5–10%

About the same

Down 5–10%

Down 10% or more

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* 7. In your business do you expect an increase, decrease, or no change over the NEXT 12 months in the following areas?

	Up Over 10%	Up 5–10%	About the Same	Down 5–10%	Down 10% or More
Profitability	Profitability Up Over 10%	Profitability Up 5–10%	Profitability About the Same	Profitability Down 5–10%	Profitability Down 10% or More
Staffing levels	Staffing levels Up Over 10%	Staffing levels Up 5–10%	Staffing levels About the Same	Staffing levels Down 5–10%	Staffing levels Down 10% or More
Capital investment	Capital investment Up Over 10%	Capital investment Up 5–10%	Capital investment About the Same	Capital investment Down 5–10%	Capital investment Down 10% or More

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* 8. How would you characterize the NATIONAL & LOCAL economy over the PAST 12 months?

	Very Strong	Strong	Stagnant	Weak	Very Weak
National economy	National economy Very Strong	National economy Strong	National economy Stagnant	National economy Weak	National economy Very Weak
Local economy	Local economy Very Strong	Local economy Strong	Local economy Stagnant	Local economy Weak	Local economy Very Weak

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* 9. What do you predict the NATIONAL and LOCAL economic forecast to look like over the NEXT 12 months?

	Very Strong	Strong	Stagnant	Weak	Very Weak
National economy	National economy Very Strong	National economy Strong	National economy Stagnant	National economy Weak	National economy Very Weak
Local economy	Local economy Very Strong	Local economy Strong	Local economy Stagnant	Local economy Weak	Local economy Very Weak

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* 10. Rate the level of concern you have for your business in the following areas as you move into 2020:

	No concern	Slight concern	Significant concern
State of the economy	State of the economy No concern	State of the economy Slight concern	State of the economy Significant concern
Cost of healthcare insurance	Cost of healthcare insurance No concern	Cost of healthcare insurance Slight concern	Cost of healthcare insurance Significant concern
Availability of quality employees	Availability of quality employees No concern	Availability of quality employees Slight concern	Availability of quality employees Significant concern
Regulatory requirements	Regulatory requirements No concern	Regulatory requirements Slight concern	Regulatory requirements Significant concern

Other (please specify)

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* 11. What changes have you seen in the local labor market over the past 12 months?

More difficult to find qualified people

About the same as previous year

Much easier to find qualified people

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* 12. Do your new employees have the necessary workforce skills from day one?

Absolutely

Somewhat

Neutral

A little

Training needed

N/A

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* 13. In your opinion, what are the major constraints on the growth of your business? (Choose all that apply)

Access to training/availability of skilled workers

Declining customer base

Difficulties in obtaining financing

Global/national economic performance

Infrastructure/Broadband and other technology access

Price pressure from competitors

Price pressure from customers

Price pressure from suppliers

Problems with local or state government planning regulations

Rising overheads and utility costs

Rising production costs

Shortage of industrial/commercial land

Taxes and government charges/ Licensing and regulations

Wages

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* 14. Does the outcome of local elections have an impact on the success of your business?

No impact

A little impact

Significant impact

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* 1. Select the economic sector that best describes your industry:

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* 2. Where is your business located? (Choose one)

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* 3. Where do you do business? (Check all that apply)

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* 4. How have your business revenues changed over the LAST 12 months relative to the previous 12 months?

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* 5. How do you expect your revenues to change in the NEXT 12 months compared to the last 12 months?

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* 6. Where do you expect your business profits to be in 2019 relative to 2018?

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* 7. In your business do you expect an increase, decrease, or no change over the NEXT 12 months in the following areas?

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* 8. How would you characterize the NATIONAL & LOCAL economy over the PAST 12 months?

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* 9. What do you predict the NATIONAL and LOCAL economic forecast to look like over the NEXT 12 months?

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* 10. Rate the level of concern you have for your business in the following areas as you move into 2020:

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* 11. What changes have you seen in the local labor market over the past 12 months?

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* 12. Do your new employees have the necessary workforce skills from day one?

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* 13. In your opinion, what are the major constraints on the growth of your business? (Choose all that apply)

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* 14. Does the outcome of local elections have an impact on the success of your business?