It certainly isn’t new news anymore that these are trying economic times, but that hasn’t discouraged the large business analysis firms from gauging, on an almost daily basis, just how gloomy we are all feeling.

According to the latest Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey ^[1], executives at an increasing number of Australian  firms expect sales, profits, employment and capital investment to weaken further in the June 2009 quarter.

Some of the survey’s key findings  for the June 2009 quarter:

• Sales and profits expectations continue to dive, 53% of firms anticipate declining sales and 60% expect declining profits
• Selling price expectations have eased slightly however three in four businesses (74%) expect to raise prices in the June quarter
• The employment growth indicator has dropped to the lowest level recorded by the survey
• Capital investment expectations have declined further, with 10% of firms expecting to decrease capital investment

It’s depressing reading, but if you’re feeling unusually buoyant today and in need of some corrective treatment, you can read the full report by downloading the PDF here ^[2].