Fed: Small business continuing to face tough conditions: ACCI

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Fed: Small business continuing to face tough conditions: ACCI(EDS: EMBARGOED TO 0001 MONDAY FEBRUARY 18)

The latest Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey has found small businesscontinues to face tough conditions despite a lift in sales.

The survey shows a small improvement in profits and sales for small businesses, butalso a continued weakness in employment which ACCI says will last for at least anotherquarter.

ACCI acting chief executive LYNDON ROWE says the survey shows more has to be done tohelp small business.

The survey also found business taxes and government charges are the big impedimentsto small business investment together with insufficient demand.

AAP RTV sw/wz

KEYWORD: ACCI (CANBERRA)