National Association for the Self-Employed – Business Benefits, Educational Resources and Access to Health Insurance for Small Businesses and Startups > How are energy costs affecting your business? (June 2008)

Respondents: 564

The high price of energy has become a hot topic both on the news and here in Washington, DC. As a consumer you are experiencing the affects of these high costs at the gas pump. Well, we want to know how the high energy costs are affecting your business and what you think Congress should do about it. Please respond to this short survey to give us your perspective on this timely issue affecting our nation.

1. Are increased energy costs, such as gasoline prices, affecting your business? (Your response should relate to your business only.)
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94% Yes

06% No

01% No Opinion

2. To what extent are increased energy costs negatively affecting your business?
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39% Significantly hurting my business

38% Moderately hurting my business

18% Slightly hurting my business

04% No affect on my business

3. Have increased energy costs caused you to increase the prices of your services and/or products?
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51% Yes

43% No

06% No Opinion

4. Have increased energy costs caused you to minimize your travel (i.e. driving) associated with business only?
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76% Yes

21% No

03% No Opinion

5. Please indicate whether you are in favor of or oppose the following energy proposals that have been suggested by Congress and the Administration.

Favor Oppose No Opinion

1. Temporarily suspend the gas tax. 59% 27% 14%

2. Place stricter federal regulations limiting emissions from vehicles. 39% 31% 30%

3. Allow additional drilling in possible oil rich areas within and off the shore of the United States (i.e. Alaska, Gulf of Mexico). 78% 17% 05%

4. Increase the use of nuclear power and the creation of new nuclear plants. 54% 26% 20%

5. Provide tax credits to drivers who buy cars with fuel-efficient technology (i.e. hybrids). 69% 17% 14%

6. Offer tax subsidies to energy companies to encourage expansion of alternative energy sources (i.e. clean coal, wind energy, natural gas). 72% 18% 09%

7. Create a temporary tax on the windfall profits of the major oil companies. 64% 23% 12%

8. Allow the Attorney General to bring an enforcement action against any country or company that is colluding in setting the price of oil, natural gas or any petroleum product. 82% 07% 12%

Survey Results

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