New Changewave Survey Shows Economy Going To Heck

Changewave, the research firm, is out with its survey of 3,029 business people.

Some highlights:

"More than half of respondents (51%) project that their company sales will come in Below Plan for the 4th Quarter 2008 – 16-pts worse than the previous quarter. Only 11% say their company sales will come in Above Plan – a 7-pt decrease from previously."

"More than half of respondents (51%) project that their company sales will come in Below Plan for the 4th Quarter 2008 – 16-pts worse than the previous quarter. Only 11% say their company sales will come in Above Plan – a 7-pt decrease from previously."

"More than half of respondents (51%) project that their company sales will come in Below Plan for the 4th Quarter 2008 – 16-pts worse than the previous quarter. Only 11% say their company sales will come in Above Plan – a 7-pt decrease from previously."

"Adding to these grim findings, the current survey shows a huge plunge in visibility going forward. Sales pipeline projections for the 1st Quarter show 39% of respondents reporting they’ll come in Below Plan, 18-pts worse than the previous survey. Just 9% say their company will come in Above Plan – 12-pts less than previously.  These are by far the lowest sales pipeline numbers in a ChangeWave survey."

"Nearly half of respondents (45%) project a decrease in their company’s 1st Quarter capital budget compared to the current quarter. Only 6% project an increase. "

Douglas A. McIntyre