To better gauge how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting business and industry, Paint & Coatings Industry (PCI) magazine is partnering with BNP Media’s Clear Seas Research division to conduct a bi-weekly survey of readers across all of its brands. PCI posted Wave 1 survey results from BNP’s 12 Manufacturing Division publications on March 30. Below are some of the results of our Wave 2 survey (conducted April 2-6). The information contained within this report represents a moment in time, as well as a brief look back at where we’ve been. It provides the collective voice of industry decision makers, influencers and contributors, and offers a unique understanding of where businesses are today. The full Wave 2 report can be downloaded for free here.

THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO INDICATED A LEVEL OF CONCERN FROM 8-10 (ON A SCALE FROM 1-10) WITH THE FOLLOWING: 

Current economy:

March 24-26: 69%

April 2-6: 72%

Achieving business goals over next three months:

March 24-26: 60%

April 2-6: 65%

Achieving business goals over next six months:

March 24-26: 56%

April 2-6: 60%

Supply chain interruptions:

March 24-26: 55%

April 2-6: 60%

Business stability for next 12 months:

March 24-26: 54%

April 2-6: 65%

Friends/family becoming infected by COVID-19:

March 24-26: 53%

April 2-6: 68%

Employees not showing up for work:

March 24-26: 38%

April 2-6: 35%

Skilled labor shortages:

March 24-26: 36%

April 2-6: 31%

Becoming personally infected by COVID-19:

March 24-26: 32%

April 2-6: 43%

IT cybersecurity with remote employees:

March 24-26: 25%

April 2-6: 28%

THE PERCENTAGE OF ACTIVE BUSINESS THAT IS ON SCHEDULE, DELAYED OR CANCELLED:

On schedule:

March 24-26: 67%

April 2-6: 63%

Delayed:

March 24-26: 26%

April 2-6: 28%

Cancelled:

March 24-26: 7%

April 2-6: 9%

THE PERCENTAGE OF PLANNED BUSINESS THAT IS ON SCHEDULE, DELAYED OR CANCELLED:

On schedule:

March 24-26: 63%

April 2-6: 57%

Delayed:

March 24-26: 31%

April 2-6: 34%

Cancelled:

March 24-26: 6%

April 2-6: 9%

RELATIVE TO ONE YEAR AGO, HOW IS NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY BEING IMPACTED?

Increase:

March 24-26: 16%

April 2-6: 17%

No Change:

March 24-26: 20%

April 2-6: 17%

Decline:

March 24-26: 64%

April 2-6: 66%

HOW IS PLANNED 2020 BUSINESS SPENDING ON EQUIPMENT, PRODUCTS, TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES, ETC. BEING IMPACTED?

Increase:

March 24-26: 8%

April 2-6: 9%

No Change:

March 24-26: 29%

April 2-6: 18%

Decline:

March 24-26: 63%

April 2-6: 73%

ANTICIPATED WORKFORCE CHANGES IN NEXT 3 MONTHS

Lay off all employees:

March 24-26: 1%

April 2-6: 0%

Lay off some employees:

March 24-26: 24%

April 2-6: 26%

Temporarily suspend employees with pay:

March 24-26: 22%

April 2-6: 14%

Temporarily suspend employees without pay:

March 24-26: 21%

April 2-6: 19%

Rehire previously suspended/laid off employees:

March 24-26: 13%

April 2-6: 10%

Hire new employees:

March 24-26: 11%

April 2-6: 15%

No change:

March 24-26: 33%

April 2-6: 32%

Don’t know:

March 24-26: 17%

April 2-6: 14%