WA businesses celebrate busier Christmas trading
December 06, 2011
The Christmas trading season is expected to bring cheers and merriment for Western Australian small businesses, according to the Sensis® Business Index released today.
Report author Ms Christena Singh said Western Australian small businesses were expecting Christmas trading to be busier overall than last year.
“Western Australia is the only state or territory where Christmas trading is expected to be better than last year,” she noted.
Overall, 34 per cent of Western Australian businesses are expecting trading conditions to be busier this Christmas, while 24 per cent are expecting conditions to be quieter and the remainder are expecting it to be line ball with last year.
For those expecting an upswing in trading, an average increase of 19 per cent is predicted. Businesses anticipating a downturn in trading are expecting conditions to be 27 per cent slower than last year.
“Western Australian small businesses have experienced strong improvements in trading conditions during the most recent quarter. These improvements, coupled with positive expectations for Christmas trading, provide a welcome boost to businesses confidence after more than nine months of challenging conditions,” she explained.
Business confidence rose strongly in Western Australia during the quarter and sits above the national average.
“Along with better trading conditions, more Western Australian businesses are planning to kick their heels up with an end of year Christmas bash,” she added.
The Sensis® Business Index indicates 51 per cent of Western Australian small businesses are planning to hold a Christmas party for staff, clients or suppliers this year, up from 48 per cent last year.
Key Western Australian Indicators for December 2011 Sensis® Business Index:
|
Indicator
|
December 2010
|
December 2011
|
|
Business Confidence
|
+45%
|
+30%
|
|
Sales
|
+8%
|
-6%
|
|
Employment
|
+5%
|
+2%
|
|
Wages and Salaries
|
+17%
|
+0%
|
|
Prices
|
+14%
|
+2%
|
|
Profitability
|
+1%
|
-9%
|
|
Capital expenditure
|
-5%
|
-21%
|
|
Approval of WA Government
|
+10%
|
-3%
|
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