MerchantCircle released survey results compiled from 378 local business owners throughout New York. More than 75% of business owners say they have seen a "moderate" to "severe" decline in sales and revenue from the same point last year. Only 4% of business owners believe the stimulus bill proposed by the Obama administration does enough for small business owners, while 59% say the plan does not. 37% say they "don't know enough about [the plan]" to have an opinion.

"I think what this survey shows, is that New York's local businesses are struggling and are still unsure about the future of our nation's economy," says Darren Waddell, Vice President of MerchantCircle. "The local business owners we surveyed overwhelmingly disapprove of the stimulus and don't believe it does enough for small business owners. Clearly the messages of hope and recovery are not resonating with local businesses. Part of that may lie in the fact that the administration has not done enough to explain the impact and benefits, as 37% of business owners say they don't know enough about the stimulus."

Nationally, Florida (54%) topped the list of states with the highest percentage of business owners who said their business was "unhealthy" or "in danger of closing." They were followed by Nevada (54%), California (50%), and North Carolina (50%).

The 11 question survey was conducted via email to MerchantCircle's core base of 700,000 nationwide members and was not limited to the current stimulus bill. More than 72% of New York business owners believed the first stimulus bill passed under the Bush Administration did not work, while 24% believe it will take time.

Other key numbers include:

- President Barack Obama's approval rating: 42% approve, 27% disapprove, 31% unsure.

- Congress' approval rating: 15% approve, 54% disapprove, 30% unsure.

- 29% say they "don't know enough about" the $787B stimulus bill to "approve" or "disapprove."

- #1 important issue addressed in the stimulus, as rated by small business owners: "Job Creation," followed by "Business Breaks." The least important: "Unemployment Benefits."