Business sentiments surveyed

A poll of local business conducted by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce this week has showed some surprising sentiments in the business community and clear calls for action.

Around half of small businesses expect their operations to improve in the next six months, despite a similar number expecting their staff numbers to decrease and their prices to increase. This was in contrast to businesses of over 20 staff, where almost two thirds expect their situation to deteriorate, yet only one third expecting to put their prices up.

“The different outlook between smaller and larger business points to the benefits that come with having a company with a more agile size”, says Michael Barnett, CEO of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.

“Smaller businesses are able to be more nimble, they can quickly shift their focus to meet the needs of the day and adjust their strategy quickly and in a responsive manner.

Larger businesses don’t have so much flexibility to do this and their size means they often work with far more constraints. They’re big ships to turn around so to speak.

Businesses right across the board focused on the stability of the economy. There was a unified call and for government to both enable and stimulate growth.

Investment in infrastructure that includes transport and broadband, reducing the cost and complexity of meeting compliance requirements were top of mind for almost every one of the businesses surveyed. It is a clear call for action from business,” says Barnett.


KEY FINDINGS
What does the new Government mean to businesses of less than 20 staff?
55% of businesses with less than 20 employees expect their business situation to improve in the next 6 months compared to the last 6 months.

51% of busineses with less than 20 employees surveyed expect their staff numbers to decrease in the next 6 months.

50% of businesses with less than 20 employees surveyed expect to raise their prices in the next 6 months.

Key Issues that businesses would like dealt with in no order are:

§ Reduction of bureaucracy
§ Reduction of compliance
§ Tax
§ Law and Order
§ Infrastructure

What does the new Government mean to businesses of more than 20 staff?
37% of businesses with more than 20 employees expect their business situation to improve in the next 6 months compared to the last 6 months.

59% of businesses with more than 20 employees surveyed expect their staff numbers to decrease in the next 6 months.

35% of businesses with less than 20 employees surveyed expect to raise their prices in the next 6 months.

Key Issues that businesses would like dealt with (in no particular order):

§ Tax
§ Infrastructure
§ Reduction of compliance and its costs
§ Scrapping of RMA

ENDS


ABOUT THE AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Auckland Chamber of Commerce is an association that influences, inspires and champions business vitality in the greater Auckland Region.

We offer a diverse range of services and opportunities to our members: lobbying and advocacy; training and recruitment; networking and business growth tools;
international trade support.

With around 6000 members, the Auckland Chamber has been supporting business for over 150 years. We are one of New Zealand’s largest business networks and a leading voice of business with local and central government and in the media.

Part of the Chamber's role as a leading voice of business is to report on the economic environment. This provides our members and the greater business community, with business intelligence and the opportunity to gain an understanding of the market forces and issues at local, regional and national levels.
Surveys are one of one of many ways in which the Chamber gauges the opinions of Auckland businesses about the current economic environment. The results provide a critical up-to-date guide to the opinion of hundreds of businesses and are a valuable planning resource.
You can find us online at www.aucklandchamber.co.nz