The chief butler and chief baker (Genesis 41

(c) FlamingoImages / iStock via Getty Images Plus (StatePoint) Supply chain issues top the list of concerns for small business owners over the last six months, but they see those pressures easing by mid-year, according to new research. In the meantime, inflation is expected to continue impacting business owners, with a majority planning to further raise their own prices.

The latest PNC semi-annual Economic Outlook survey of small and mid-size business owners and executives is a good gauge of the overall economy, however analysts point out that the situation in Eastern Europe that’s unfolded since has likely intensified some of the sentiments expressed by respondents.

“The events in Ukraine were not on the minds of business owners when the survey was conducted in January,” says PNC chief economist, Gus Faucher, “There was concern at that time about rising prices, and that worry has likely intensified, given the rapid increase in energy prices, among other factors.”

In January, 34% of owners who rely on a supply chain said timeliness had worsened in the previous six months and 28% of businesses that rely on inventory are faced with the challenge of not having enough supply to meet expected demand. However, 57% expect these issues to improve in the next six months.

“Supply chain problems have been a big contributor to the highest inflation the U.S. has seen in almost 40 years. But it’s encouraging that most small businesses see this easing soon,” Faucher said. ”The wild card now is how long inflationary factors due to the Ukraine crisis last.”

Rising prices also are on the minds of business owners – 51% expect to increase their prices in the next six months and 34% percent say their prices have already gone up in the past six months.

“Six months ago, businesses were raising prices because demand was strong enough that they could. Now it appears higher costs are forcing them to,” Faucher said.

Turnover and Hiring Impacts

Forty-three percent of business owners report losing staff since the start of the pandemic, which they agree is bad for business. Top reasons for employee departures are illness or death (50%), worker concerns over health or safety (46%), and changes in lifestyle or priorities (36%).

Among businesses with employees, 26% say it’s become harder to hire qualified personnel. Businesses are responding to recruiting challenges, most notably through improved work conditions, like health and safety improvements, allowing more flexible work arrangements, and increasing compensation. In the meantime, businesses are coping with worker shortages by increasing existing employees’ workloads, having owners or managers cover shifts and by increasingly relying on technology or automation.

Other key survey findings include: • Vaccine boosterism: Fifty-six percent of business owners say a majority of their workforce has a COVID-19 booster vaccination. Sixty-five percent have taken some action to encourage boosters through a requirement (31%), assistance and/or education (29%), incentives (22%) or restrictions for those who choose not to receive the booster (19%). • Tempered optimism: Business leaders’expectations about their own companies remain strong with 47% feeling highly optimistic and only 2% feeling pessimistic. However, their outlook for the national and local economies has shifted to cautious. • Business adaptation: Small and midsized businesses have made dramatic, lasting changes to adapt to the pandemic environment. Ninety-two percent have made at least one change to policies, processes, operations or use of technology, and almost all of those owners expect one or more of the changes to become permanent.

For full survey results, visit pnc.mediaroom.com.

Labor and supply shortages continue to plague small and mid-sized businesses. Despite these challenges, there’s prevalent optimism, which experts say is an encouraging sign of what’s to come.

by Healthy Exchanges

Chili Cheesy Biscuit Casserole

Here’s a change for you chili lovers. It’s like getting your chili and cornbread all in one dish. 1/2 cup finely chopped onion 1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes,undrained 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar Twin or Splenda Granular 2 teaspoons JO’s Chili Seasoning or any chili seasoning 1 cup Bisquick Heart Smart Baking Mix 3 tablespoons (3/4 ounce) shredded Kraft 2 percent Cheddar cheese 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 1/3 cup fat-free milk 1 egg or equivalent in egg substitute 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon yellow cornmeal

Preheat oven to 400. Spray an 8-by8-inch baking dish with butter-flavored cooking spray. In a large skillet also sprayed with cooking spray, sauté onion and green pepper for 5 minutes. Stir in undrained tomatoes, kidney beans,brown sugar and chili seasoning. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish.

In a medium bowl,combine baking mix,Cheddar cheese and parsley flakes. Add milk and egg. Mix well to combine. Spoon batter over kidney bean mixture. Evenly sprinkle cornmeal over top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Place baking dish on a wire rack and let set 5 minutes. Divide into 6 servings. • Each serving:187 calories,3g fat, 8g protein,32g carbs,340mg sodium, 84mg calcium, 6g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges:1 1/2 Starch,1 Meat,1 Vegetable; Carb Choices:2.

Visit Healthy Exchanges at www.healthyexchanges.com, or call toll-free at 1-800-766-8961 for more information about our “common folk”healthy recipes.

New Banana Tea Bread

Enjoy a slice for dessert or to start your day off right — it also makes a great snack. For a whole-grain variation,substitute 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour for 1/2 cup of the all-purpose flour. 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup (about 3 small) bananas, mashed,very ripe 1/3 cup fruit-based fat replacement or unsweetened applesauce 2 large egg whites 1 large egg 1/4 cup pecans,chopped 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray 9by-5-inch metal loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. 2. In large bowl,combine flour, sugar,baking powder,baking soda and salt. 3. In medium bowl,with fork,mix mashed bananas, fruit-based fat replacement,egg whites and egg. 4. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into loaf pan,sprinkle with chopped pecans. 5. Bake 40 to 45 minutes,until toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs attached. Cool loaf in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove loaf from pan,cool completely on wire rack. 6. Each slice:About 110 calories, 3g protein,22g carbohydrate,2g total fat (0g saturated),13mg cholesterol, 140mg sodium.

NOTE: Fruit-based fat replacements are sold in the baking section of some supermarkets and healthfood stores. • Each serving:About 200 calories, 3g protein,22g carb.,2g total fat (0g saturated), 0g fiber, 13mg cholesterol,140mg sodium,.

1. ANATOMY:What are succedaneous teeth also known as? 2. LITERATURE:Who wrote the thriller novel “The Day of the Jackal”? 3. MUSIC: The autobiography “Lady Sings the Blues”was the story of what singer? 4. SCIENCE:What is a cnidocyst? 5. GEOGRAPHY:Where does the Gulf of Oman lie? 6. BUSINESS:What is an oligopoly? 7. LEGAL:What does it mean when a case is heard “en banc”? 8. PSYCHOLOGY:What is coprolalia? 9. LANGUAGE:What is a “Catch22”? 10. NATURAL WORLD:What kind of bird is a bobwhite?

Answers

1. Permanent teeth 2. Frederick Forsyth 3. Billie Holiday 4. A venomous cell used by jellyfish and other marine creatures. 5. Between Oman and Iran 6. An industry dominated by a few sellers 7. A hearing by all judges of a court 8. A disorder characterized by uncontrollable swearing 9. A illogical or absurd predicament 10. A quail

1. Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki recorded 1,414 hits in his first 1,000 majorleague games, the second-highest total by a player in 1,000 games since 1900. Who has the highest total? 2. Name the only current skipper to have played 2,000 or more majorleague games and managed 2,000 or more major-league games. 3. Who has the most regular-season victories as an NFL coach:Chuck Noll,Bill Parcells,Dan Reeves or Marty Schottenheimer? 4. Which team has the best men’s basketball Final Four winning percentage (minimum three games played)? 5. In 2007, Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby became the youngest team captain in NHL history (19 years,297 days). Who had held the mark? 6. How many times has the same team won the Rolex 24 race at Daytona International Speedway three consecutive years? 7. Of the 16 Grand Slam tennis events between 2004-07,how many men’s singles titles did Roger Federer win?

Answers

1. Hall of Fame member Al Simmons had 1,433 hits in his first 1,000 games. 2. Joe Torre played in 2,209 majorleague games and had managed in 3,843 regular-season major-league games entering 2008. 3. Schottenheimer (200 victories in 21 seasons),followed by Noll (193 in 23),Reeves (190 in 23) and Parcells (172 in 19). 4. The University of Connecticut is 4-0 in Final Four games. 5. Vincent Lecavalier got the captain’s job for the Tampa Bay Lightning when he was 19 years,324 days old in March 2000. 6. Chip Ganassi Racing has won the event three consecutive years (200608). 7. Eleven titles.