{"id":42034,"date":"2023-10-20T15:18:15","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/startupsmart.test\/2023\/10\/20\/businesses-and-retailers-expecting-merry-profits-this-christmas-startupsmart\/"},"modified":"2023-10-20T15:18:15","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:18:15","slug":"businesses-and-retailers-expecting-merry-profits-this-christmas-startupsmart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startupsmart.com.au\/uncategorized\/businesses-and-retailers-expecting-merry-profits-this-christmas-startupsmart\/","title":{"rendered":"Businesses and retailers expecting merry profits this Christmas – StartupSmart"},"content":{"rendered":"
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More businesses are hopeful of a profitable Christmas season despite a relatively downbeat year, with expectations rising to some of their highest levels of the past 12 months.<\/p>\n

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The latest Dun & Bradstreet results also come after the latest Westpac consumer sentiment survey showed Australians were more confident about themselves and their financial positions after the election came to a close.<\/p>\n

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But businesses still plan on reducing headcounts.<\/p>\n

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The survey shows 28% of businesses expect to increase their profits during the next three years, with only 7% expecting a reduction. As a result, the index measuring profit expectations is up to 21.1 points, from 13.2 points in the previous quarter.<\/p>\n

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While the last quarter of the year is traditionally the brightest when it comes to expectations, seeing as retailers make most of their money during the holiday months, D&B notes this season has also been buoyed by the wrap-up of the federal election.<\/p>\n

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The results say as much \u2013 65% of businesses surveyed said they were more confident about business conditions after the election.<\/p>\n

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Retailers in particular have a positive outlook \u2013 25% say they will increase profits, and that figure rises to 31% among smaller businesses.<\/p>\n

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\u201cSignificantly for retailers, the widespread discounting which occurred earlier in the year does not appear to be tied to their current expectations for improved activity, with the majority intending to keep their prices unchanged,\u201d D&B said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAcross all sectors surveyed, the selling prices index is steady at 10.2 points, up marginally from 9.4 points in the previous quarter.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Selling prices have taken a tumble to a 24-year low of 2.5 points, with many companies having dropped their prices. But recent fluctuations in the dollar give this metric some hope \u2013 58% of businesses expect to experience no impact from the current level of the dollar, and 34% expect a positive one.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sales expectations are solid, up from 4.9 points to 7.9, with hope that interest rates will provide some stimulus.<\/p>\n

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However, there is some bad news for hiring \u2013 more businesses plan to reduce headcount during the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

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Overall, however, economic advisor Stephen Koukoulas says the results are positive \u2013 so much so they could even lead to a rise in interest rates next year if the overall economy improves.<\/p>\n

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\u201cLow interest rates and the weaker Australian dollar are now showing up quite directly in activity and the mood of the business sector.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe positive signs for the economy from the survey all but close the door on talk of a further interest rate cut from the RBA.\u201d<\/p>\n

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This story first appeared on SmartCompany.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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