Sensis® Business Index – May 2008

Business confidence among SMEs fell sharply during the past quarter. In addition to lower levels of confidence, current perceptions of the economy fell dramatically, and perceptions about the future economic direction also plummeted. The prime problem reported by SMEs this quarter was the economic climate, followed by difficulties finding and keeping staff and a lack of work or sales.

Sensis® Business Index – February 2008

Business confidence among SMEs rose during the past quarter. However, despite higher levels of confidence, current perceptions of the economy fell dramatically, and perceptions about the future economic direction also plummeted. The prime problem reported by SMEs was difficulty finding and keeping staff, followed by the economic climate and a lack of work or sales.

Sensis® Business Index – November 2007

Business confidence among SMEs fell dramatically during the past quarter. However, despite lower levels of confidence, current perceptions of the economy showed significant improvement, but perceptions about the future economic direction fell. The prime problem reported by SMEs was difficulty finding and keeping staff, followed by a lack of work or sales.

Sensis® Business Index – August 2007

Business confidence among SMEs was stable at strong levels during the past quarter. However, despite unchanged levels of confidence, current perceptions of the economy showed significant softening, with perceptions about the future economic direction also falling.

Sensis® Business Index – May 2007

Confidence amongst the nation's small and medium businesses (SMEs) is at a 15-month high, according to the latest Sensis® Business Index released today. The survey, undertaken quarterly by Sensis to track and understand the views of small businesses, interviewed 1,800 businesses from 24 April to 31 May.

Sensis® Business Index – February 2007

The February Sensis® Business Index revealed small and medium businesses are expecting the Australian economy to grow over the next 12 months, making the outlook for the Australian economy the most buoyant it had been in two years.

Sensis® Business Index – November 2006
The November 2006 Sensis® Business Index revealed that business confidence has rebounded on the back of stronger consumer demand, falling petrol prices and lower inflationary pressure.

Sensis® Business Index – August 2006
The August 2006 Sensis® Business Index revealed that the current state of the Australian economy spooks small business and that concerns about the economy are at a record high.

Sensis® Business Index – May 2006
The May 2006 Sensis® Business Index revealed business confidence among Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) fell dramatically for the quarter. This result reflected the impact that increased fuel prices and, to a lesser extent, interest rates were having on consumer spending. Despite the fall in confidence for business prospects, perceptions of the current state of the Australian economy rose marginally; along with a marginal increase in the net proportion of SMEs who felt the economy would be better a year from now.

Sensis® Business Index – February 2006
The February 2006 Sensis® Business Index recorded increased business confidence among Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the quarter, reaching its highest level for 12 months. Perceptions of the Australian economy also improved, for the third successive quarter. The prime concern for SMEs was a lack of work or sales, followed by finding quality staff.

Sensis® Business Index – November 2005
Business confidence among SMEs remained unchanged from the previous quarter. All key indicators rose, with the exception of prices and capital expenditure. The greatest concern for the SME sector was finding quality staff, followed by petrol and freight costs. The Sensis® Business Index also showed the majority of small business operators would not make any changes to their business if the proposed workplace relations changes were passed.

Sensis® Business Index – August 2005
Business confidence among SMEs rebounded, after a sharp fall the previous quarter. In line with rising business confidence, performance improved across all indicators with the exception of employment and prices. Expectations also rose for the short term and for the year ahead.

Sensis® Business Index – May 2005
The May 2005® Business Index recorded a sharp decline in business confidence to the lowest level in two and a half years. Performance in all indicators weakened over the past quarter with the exceptions of employment and prices. Employment, which is often a lag indicator, reached its highest level in the history of the index.

Sensis® Business Index – February 2005
Business confidence among SMEs fell for the second successive quarter, however remained at an historically strong level. Despite softening business confidence, performance indicators improved over the past quarter. Expectations were strong across most indicators in the short term, with some fluctuations for the year ahead.

Sensis® Business Index – November 2004
Business confidence among SMEs fell since the exceptionally strong result recorded last quarter, but remained at an historically strong level. There was marginal softening in most business performance indicators over the past quarter, however most indicators remained at strong levels.

Sensis® Business Index – August 2004
Business confidence among SMEs was at the highest levels on record during the August 2004 quarter. There was an improvement in most business performance indicators over the past quarter, with all indicators being at high levels.

Sensis® Business Index – May 2004
Business confidence among SMEs remained at historically high levels during the May 2004 quarter, despite some evidence of softening. There was a decline in most business performance indicators over the past quarter. Despite the softening, many indicators, including sales, remained at a high base.

Sensis® Business Index – February 2004
Business confidence among SMEs was stable during the January 2004 quarter and remains at the highest level since August 1994. While perceptions of the current state of the economy are at historically high levels, there was some weakening in the current quarter.

Sensis® Business Index – November 2003
The November 2003 Business Index recorded a continued rise in business confidence, taking it to the highest level since August 1994. Perceptions of the current state of the economy also improved to reach the highest level since the Index commenced in 1993.

Sensis® Business Index – August 2003
Business confidence among Australia's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) jumped substantially last quarter, taking it to a level not seen since August 1994.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – May 2003
The May 2003 Business Index recorded a slight drop in business confidence from an historically high base. While confidence remained quite strong, both current perceptions and future expectations of the Australian economy strengthened further during the quarter.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – February 2003
The February 2003 Business Index recorded a noticeable increase in business confidence coupled with improved perceptions of the Australian economy,both in the short term and over the coming 12 months.In the main,sales and profitability have strengthened considerably for a number of states and industry sectors.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – November 2002
The November 2002 Yellow Pages® Business Index –Small and Medium Enterprises recorded an increase in business confidence,but declining perceptions of the Australian economy. The most critical finding saw an improvement during the quarter in actual sales and profit performance within small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Yellow Pages® Business Index – August 2002
The August 2002 Yellow Pages® Business Index –Small and Medium Enterprises recorded a decline in business confidence and perceptions of the Australian economy. The most critical finding saw the recent momentum among small and medium enterprises (SMEs)stall.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – May 2002
The May 2002 Yellow Pages® Business Index - Small and Medium Enterprises demonstrated a continued improvement in both business confidence and current perceptions of the Australian economy. The stand-out feature of this Index is that small and medium enterprise (SME) confidence levels are the highest since May 1996.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – February 2002
The February 2002 Yellow Pages® Business Index – Small and Medium Enterprises shows a substantial improvement in business confidence and perceptions of the Australian economy. All key business indicators demonstrated improvement during the quarter, both in terms of actual and projected performance. Download the Yellow Pages® Business Index for February 2002 [PDF, 6MB]

Yellow Pages® Business Index – November 2001
The November 2001 Yellow Pages® Business Index – Small and Medium Enterprises shows a decline in both business confidence and expectations for the Australian economy. However, key business indicators such as actual sales performance improved during the quarter.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – August 2001
The most crucial finding from the August 2001 Yellow Pages® Business Index – Small and Medium Enterprises is a noticeable improvement in business confidence. This has yet to be reflected in the performance of a range of key business indicators.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – May 2001
The most crucial finding from the May 2001 Yellow Pages® Business Index – Small and Medium Enterprises is the continuation of noticeably weak trading conditions and a fall in business confidence expectations.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – February 2001
The most crucial finding from the February 2001 Yellow Pages® Business Index – Small and Medium Enterprises is the continuation of weak trading conditions and subdued business expectations.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – November 2000
The most critical finding of the November 2000 Yellow Pages® Business Index – Small and Medium Enterprises is a downturn in business confidence within the Australian small enterprise sector. Lack of historical data for medium enterprises means similar confidence comparisons for this sector are not possible.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – August 2000
Small business confidence in their own business prospects for the next 12 months rose sharply over the last quarter - reflecting, we believe, an easier than expected GST transition phase.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – May 2000
Small business confidence in their business prospects over the next 12 months has collapsed to the lowest level since the Yellow Pages® Small Business Index began.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – February 2000
Small business confidence has fallen to the lowest level since May 1997. The 11 percentage point drop in confidence is the greatest fall since August 1996.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – November 1999
Small business proprietors’ confidence in their own prospects for the next 12 months remains high nationally, despite a slight easing in November 1999. Some 67% are confident in their own prospects, and only 15% are worried.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – August 1999
Nationally, small business confidence for business prospects over the next 12 months is high and stable. More than two-thirds of proprietors are confident and only 14% worried about their business in this period.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – May 1999
Confidence among Australia’s small business proprietors remained strong over the three months to May.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – February 1999
Confidence among Australia™s small business proprietors is strong, firming substantially over the three months to February.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – November 1998
The confidence of small business proprietors firmed slightly over the past three months, following the easing of confidence recorded in the two previous surveys.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – August 1998
Nationally, small business confidence was lower for the second successive quarter, with the net balance falling to 44%. Nonetheless, it is still above levels recorded 12 months ago.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – May 1998
Nationally, small business confidence dipped slightly in May 1998. A net 47% of small business proprietors were confident of their prospects for the next 12 months compared with 51% in February 1998.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – February 1998
Nationally, small business confidence firmed slightly over the three months to February 1998, and is now at the highest level since the post-election peak of May 1996.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – November 1997
Small business confidence rose significantly between August and November. With the exception of the election-euphoria induced –rise in confidence recorded in the May 1996 survey, this is the highest level of confidence for two-and-a-half years.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – August 1997
Small business confidence remains low, little changed over the past five quarters. Confidence lifted strongly in the two territories but fell in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Confidence is now highest in the Northern Territory and lowest in Queensland.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – May 1997
Small business confidence remains low, falling marginally since the previous survey three months ago. A net 40% of proprietors expressed confidence in their own business prospects, the lowest level since August 1993.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – February 1997
Nationally, small business confidence is unchanged from the low levels recorded in the August and November 1996 surveys. Confidence in own business prospects over the next 12 months is highest in WA and lowest in Tasmania. Confidence rose in NSW and Queensland but fell in Victoria, Tasmania and the two territories.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – November 1996
Small business confidence remains low. Nationally, a net 43% of small business proprietors are confident about their own business prospects over the next 12 months — unchanged from the previous survey three months ago but well below the levels recorded immediately following the Federal election.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – August 1996
Small business confidence has fallen sharply from the post election peak. Whereas a net 57% of properties had expressed confidence when surveyed in may, a net 43% only of proprietors are now confident about their prospects over the next 12 months.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – May 1996
Small business confidence has fallen sharply from the post election peak. Whereas a net 57% of properties had expressed confidence when surveyed in may, a net 43% only of proprietors are now confident about their prospects over the next 12 months.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – February 1996
Small business confidence increased significatly over the three months to February 1996. The rise in confidence nationally follows five consecutive quarters of falling confidence from the boom levels of 1994. A net 47% of proprietors surveyed in February expressed confidence in their own business prospects over th next 12 months compared with only 41% last November.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – November 1995
Nationally, small business confidence remains strong and positive despite five consecutive quarters of decline from the peak of 1994. A net 41% of small business proprietors surveyed in November are confident about their business prospects in the 12 months ahead compared with 46% three months ago and the peak level of 65% in February, May and August 1994.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – August 1995
Lack of capital is a serious problem for small businesses within Australia. More than one-third of the small businesses surveyed in the Yellow Pages® Small Business Index in August 1995 reported that they are constrained by lack of capital.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – May 1995
Confidence in Australian small businesses is strong with a net 49% of proprietors positive about their own business prospects over the next 12 months. The stabilisation fo confidence between February and May 1995 contrasts with the fall in small business confidence between August 1994 and February 1995. A major factor in the stability of confidence appears to be the reduced concern over interest rate rises.

Yellow Pages® Business Index – February 1995
Less than 10% of small businesses seek high growth, yet this small core has generated disproportionately high employment growth over the past year. The Yellow Pages™ Small Business Index™ identified 8% of small businesses as seeking high or significant growth and these proprietors report employment growth averaging 10% over the past year.