Small businesses losing faith in Government following 2009 Budget

In all, 97% of respondents to the organisation's post-Budget online survey believe nothing has been done to ease the burden of costs they face and 94% feel that the Budget did not address the issues threatening the survival of their businesses.

Fewer than 1% of business owners surveyed thought that the Budget was an effective response to the needs of their businesses. 68% of respondents said it would prove to be 'ineffective' and a quarter that it would prove to be 'harmful' to their businesses. Small firms were more positive about measures announced in the Pre-Budget Report than the Budget according to the FPB's most recent Referendum quarterly survey of members, which was conducted in March 2009. 6% of the business owners taking part said the Pre-Budget Report contained effective measures, 63% believed it was ineffective and 16% deemed it harmful to their businesses.

66% of businesses surveyed before the Budget announcement said that restoring business confidence should be prioritised. In addition, 64% felt that the Government should address plummeting consumer confidence. However, in the latest survey, 91% of small business owners felt that the Budget did not address these issues.

Read more here: http://www.fpb.org/news/2183/Small_businesses_losing_faith_in_Government_following_2009_Budget.htm

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