Business
is looking up for an increasing number of wholesalers, suppliers and
importers, according to SAF’s second Economic Outlook Survey conducted
in late May 2009. Twenty-four percent of wholesalers* rated business as
“good,” which is 60 percent more than when wholesalers were asked about
business in late January. Likewise, wholesalers rating business as
negative fell considerably since the January survey, from 46 percent to
18 percent, a 61 percent drop.


Similar results were found for floral retailers, including a sizeable increase in the number of businesses more positive about the future.


Wholesalers are also less pessimistic about the economy in general
than they were in January: 19 percent predict the economy will worsen,
compared to 62 percent, and twice as many wholesale florists (26
percent) expect the economy to improve than did in January.


More than half of wholesalers expect little change in the economy over the next six months, compared to 40 percent in January. 

What’s the six-month outlook for wholesalers’ sales? Better
compared to their forecast in January: 39 percent expect sales to
increase, compared to just 13 percent who felt that way in January. The
percentage expecting a decrease dropped from 38 percent to 18 percent.

Wholesalers remain cautious about staffing, with just 6
percent expecting to add employees before November. About half expect
to maintain current levels, up from a third last time. Although 45
percent of wholesale businesses expect to decrease staff, that’s still
fewer than the 62 percent who saw reductions coming last time.

The job findings are consistent with reports that the worst of
the job cuts may be over, but employment recovery will take additional
time.

* This combined segment will be referred to as “wholesale florists.”

Source: SAF Economic Outlook Survey, Second quarter 2009.
Based on 73 responses of wholesale florists, suppliers and importers;
response rate 35.6 percent.