Winter Weather Hurt Massachusetts’ Small Businesses
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iStock/Thinkstock(BOSTON) — Boston literally got dumped on this winter with the city just two inches away from breaking the record of 107.6 inches of snow set during 1995-1996.
While residents are slowly recovering from the massive snowfall, it will likely take Massachusetts’ small businesses longer to recoup their losses.
Overall, according to a poll of over 1,600 small companies, business dropped 24 percent from Jan. 26 through February compared to the same period in 2013.
Restaurants and retailers got slammed the worst with sales tumbling by close to 50 percent. The lousy weather also affected many employees who are paid by the hour with payrolls dropping seven percent overall among small businesses.
However, there one was bright spot. Grocery stores and similar food and beverage retailers saw their sales rise eight percent compared to a year ago, thanks to people rushing out for supplies.
The survey was conducted by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, Associated Industries of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
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