WASHINGTON, DC – Health insurance costs topped the worries of small business owners in a new survey by the National Federation of Independent Busienss and Wells Fargo.

The latest Small Business Problems and Priorities Survey done every four years also shows that rising costs of natural gas, propane, gasoline, diesel and fuel oil is an increasing concern.

In the survey, 42.3 percent said rising fuel costs are “critical,” up from 26.1 percent in the 2004 survey.

Other top ten issues among those who responded included electricity costs, inventories, and worker’s compensation.

Bruce D. Phillips, senior fellow at the NFIB Research Foundation and co-author of the report said, “For four years, the economy provided a good, stable foundation for small business owners to do business.

“But as it started to take a negative turn over the last several months, they felt the effects of rising costs of doing business as reflected by these results.”

“As the economic outcome remains uncertain, small business owners are searching for innovative ways to reduce expenses and increase sales.”

On the Web: www.nfib.com

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