Businesses Look to the Future

22 August 2006

Businesses Look to the Future

Businesses are planning further ahead Statistics New Zealand said today. Over 40 percent of businesses indicated they plan more than one year ahead when setting goals, up from 18 percent in 2001.

This was one of many interesting results uncovered by the Business Operations Survey, conducted for the first time in 2005. It replaces several previous surveys and collects information on a wide range of business practices and behaviours that impact on business performance.

The survey also found that in 2005 17 percent of businesses had export sales during their last financial year, with 5 percent entering new export markets during this same period. The manufacturing industry led the way, with 41 percent of manufacturing businesses exporting and 14 percent entering new markets.

The survey showed 52 percent of businesses had engaged in innovation over the previous two years. The industries with the highest innovation rate were finance and insurance (68 percent) and manufacturing (65 percent). In 2005, almost half of all businesses systematically compared their performance or processes with other businesses.

Further publications focusing on other areas of interest covered by the 2005 Business Operations Survey will be released over the next 12 months.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

ENDS

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