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Regional businesses lead a decline in confidence of Australian SMEs

Technology & Data

Regional businesses lead a decline in confidence of Australian SMEs

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Regional businesses are the main source of a decline in confidence of Australia’s small and medium businesses, finds a survey by Sensis. 

 

51% of small and medium business owners are feeling positive about the year ahead, down from 53% in October, according to the latest Sensis Business Index.

24% report being worried, and the Index reports a growing gap between the experience of metropolitan and regional businesses, with declining confidence among regional businesses being the main source of declining confidence overall.

The Index is produced quarterly to provide an in-depth view on confidence and sentiment of small and medium businesses towards the economy, as well as other indicators. It reflects the views of 1000 small and medium businesses.

SMEs comprise 99% of all businesses operating in Australia, so their experiences and outlook provide a good window into the health of the economy.

Sensis CEO, John Allan, says that local factors result in differing levels between the states and territories. “Much depends on the local factors driving the indicators we track,” Allan said. “Factors such as the Australian dollar, taxation and levels of construction are important. Location also plays a big part, with regional SMEs experiencing harder times overall compared to their urban colleagues.”

“Confidence for the year ahead is split across the country. The outlook for 2015 dropped in New South Wales and Queensland as well as the Northern Territory and ACT. Elsewhere, Victoria and Tasmania saw big leaps in confidence while Western Australia and South Australia also experienced a rise.”

 

State-by-state overview

Victoria

Victorian small and medium sized businesses are among the most positive in the country about the year ahead. Victorian SME confidence rose ten points to 38, registering above the national average for the first time since November 2013.

New South Wales

Small and medium businesses  in New South Wales are increasingly uncertain about the year ahead, confidence fell 13 points to 24, a level slightly below the national average of 27.  This was the highest drop recorded by any state or territory and the first time they have been below the national average in more than a year.

Australian Capital Territory

ACT small and medium sized businesses are the most uncertain in the country about the year ahead, seeing a fall in confidence of 12 points to 9, far below the national average of 27.

Queensland

Confidence for Queensland SMEs has fallen five points this quarter to 13 and remains lower than the national average of 27.  Queensland is the most favourably viewed State Government in the country.

Northern Territory

Despite confidence slipping three points to 46, Northern Territory small and medium businesses are the most confident of any in the country, remaining well above the national average of 27.

South Australia

South Australian small and medium businesses recorded a five point rise in confidence to 19 but remain among the most uncertain in the country. Sentiment towards the SA State Government is the lowest of any felt towards a state government in the country.

Western Australia

Western Australian small and medium sized businesses are among the most positive in the country about the year ahead. SME confidence rose three points to 38, well above the national average of 27.  Bucking the national trend, SMEs in regional areas are more confident than their metropolitan counterparts, with 46% positive about the coming 12 months, compared to 37% in metropolitan areas.

Tasmania

Tasmanian SME confidence rose 24 points to 38, well above the national average of 27.  For Tasmania, the outlook is more robust than most other states, with confidence returning to levels unseen in a year.

 

Here’s a handy infographic provided by Sensis:

SBI dec 2014 infog

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Peter Roper

Editor of Marketing and Marketing Mag from 2013 to 2017. Tweets as @pete_arrr.

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