The pessimism of small businesses has grown stronger in the first half of 2019: in recent years, greater negativity indicators were observed only in 2015, according to the Alfa-Bank’s “Pulse of Small Business” survey.

      The representatives of the retail and construction sectors are the most ill disposed.

      Pessimism in relation to the current situation in the economy reached -73; 86% of respondents told that the economic situation was an obstacle to business development, 82% noticed a decrease in purchasing power. Pessimism of respondents in relation to the state of their own business has also grown (-17), more and more entrepreneurs are talking about lower profits, smaller average receipts and reducing number of customers. The main problems of businesses, according to the survey, include reduction of consumer demand, tax burden, competition with larger companies, as well as introduction of mandatory markings.