The business barometer.

How man stores do you run?

One                 86%
Two                  5%
Three                O%
Three +              9%

Are you more or less likely to consider opening a new
store in the current climate?

Less                                        90%
More                                       10%

Do you think the Budget has made things better
worse for your business?

Worse                                     47%
Won't have an impact                      42%
Better                                    11%

Where did you most want cuts?

Property purchase tax        35%
Business rates               27%
Fuel duty                    22%
Other                        11%
NI                            5%

Is your business in a better or worse shape than it
was this time last year?

Worse                                       47%
About the same                              35%
Better                                      18%

CHEETHAMBELL J W T

Survey of 250 independent retailers conducted by Retail Attack, a division of CheethamBell JWT. Retail Attack offers brand owners a cost-effective alternative to field sales within the convenience channel. For more information. visit www. retailattack.co.uk or contact Jennifer McBeath on 07900 406867/[e-mail]