Capital One Bank Releases Results of its National
Small Business Barometer Survey
Survey data for the second quarter of 2010 suggest one-quarter of small businesses in the U.S. expect the
Gulf oil spill will impact business
August 24, 2010 10:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time
MCLEAN, Va.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Capital One Small Business Banking today released the results
of its Small Business Barometer survey for the second quarter of 2010. The quarterly survey polls small businesses
across the nation, gauging their current financial condition and business projections for the next six months. Survey
results for the second quarter of 2010 suggest that many U.S. small businesses are experiencing stable or improved
financial performance, but an increased number of businesses surveyed have grown more cautious about near-term
plans for adding employees and spending on business development and investments. For small businesses looking for
growth opportunities, survey results suggest that most will have access to any financing or credit needed.
“Survey results for the second quarter of this year suggest that financial performance has stabilized or even started to
improve for most small businesses surveyed in the U.S., continuing a trend we first observed in the first quarter,” said
Robert M. Kottler, Executive Vice President of Small Business Banking at Capital One. “However, compared to
results from the first quarter, small businesses are slightly less optimistic about economic conditions and an increased
number of small businesses plan to hold off on capital investment and job growth plans for the next six months.”
Outlook and Financial Performance
The survey results for the second quarter of 2010 suggest that the overall economic outlook of U.S. small businesses
has weakened slightly compared to the first quarter. In the first quarter, 39 percent of small business owners
surveyed said that economic conditions for their business were improving, but this number dropped to 32 percent in
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