BUSINESS PERFORMANCE Q. How is your business performing this year compared to last year? About 50% of Territory businesses noted that their business performance is better this year compared to last year, while 18% of the businesses stated that business performance is the same as last year, and 32% of businesses stated their business performance is worse than last year. However, business performance levels varied among businesses in the regions (table below). BUSINESS PERFORMANCE THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR BY REGION Statistical area level 3 (SA3) regions Business performance Better Same Worse Greater Darwin 44% 25% 31% Darwin City/Suburbs 43% 25% 32% Palmerston 47% 23% 30% Litchfield 56% 28% 17% Katherine (Big Rivers) 66% 15% 19% East Arnhem 35% 0% 65% Daly, Tiwi & West Arnhem 38% 15% 46% Barkly/Tennant Creek 56% 3% 41% Alice Springs 61% 15% 24% Territory-wide 50% 18% 32% METHODOLOGY A face-to-face survey of businesses operating in the Territory is conducted by the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation (DTBI) on a quarterly basis. Business confidence is estimated using the business confidence index. There are approximately 14,000 operating businesses in the Territory. Therefore, for the sample survey to achieve a 95% confidence level with a margin of error of 5%, 375 survey responses are required. Business confidence index is calculated as the difference between the proportion of businesses that are about their business prospects for the next 12 months' minus the proportion of businesses that ‘confident are about their business prospects for the next 12 months’ (net balance approach). ‘worried The higher the net balance the greater the level of business confidence. For example, if 60% of businesses are confident and 40% of businesses are worried, the net balance is +20%. Survey responses are also analysed by region and industry sector of businesses.
BUSINESS PERFORMANCE Q. How is your business performing this year compared to last year? About 50% of Territory businesses noted that their business performance is better this year compared to last year, while 18% of the businesses stated that business performance is the same as last year, and 32% of businesses stated their business performance is worse than last year. However, business performance levels varied among businesses in the regions (table below). BUSINESS PERFORMANCE THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR BY REGION Statistical area level 3 (SA3) regions Business performance Better Same Worse Greater Darwin 44% 25% 31% Darwin City/Suburbs 43% 25% 32% Palmerston 47% 23% 30% Litchfield 56% 28% 17% Katherine (Big Rivers) 66% 15% 19% East Arnhem 35% 0% 65% Daly, Tiwi & West Arnhem 38% 15% 46% Barkly/Tennant Creek 56% 3% 41% Alice Springs 61% 15% 24% Territory-wide 50% 18% 32% METHODOLOGY A face-to-face survey of businesses operating in the Territory is conducted by the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation (DTBI) on a quarterly basis. Business confidence is estimated using the business confidence index. There are approximately 14,000 operating businesses in the Territory. Therefore, for the sample survey to achieve a 95% confidence level with a margin of error of 5%, 375 survey responses are required. Business confidence index is calculated as the difference between the proportion of businesses that are ‘confident about their business prospects for the next 12 months' minus the proportion of businesses that are ‘worried about their business prospects for the next 12 months’ (net balance approach). The higher the net balance the greater the level of business confidence. For example, if 60% of businesses are confident and 40% of businesses are worried, the net balance is +20%. Survey responses are also analysed by region and industry sector of businesses.
business-confidence-survey-201612.docx