For release: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 (graphs included) For more information, please contact: Terry J.

y J. Bush, SPHR, Director 574.289.4011, ext. 205; tbush@klcpas.com Michiana Benchmark Business Index Declines Nearly 10% (South Bend, IN). Kruggel, Lawton & Company, LLC, today released results from its quarterly survey of chief financial officers (CFOs) in for-profit companies in the Michiana area. The Benchmark Business Index is based on four business metrics: revenue, profitability, employment, and CFO outlook. CFOs from forty-seven companies reported changes in their companies 3rd quarter (July, August and September) 2012 revenue, profitability and employment compared to the 3rd quarter of 2011, along with their current perception of the economic and business outlook for their companies. The overall Benchmark Business Index for this most recent quarter is 56.91 out of a maximum possible rating of 100. This is an 8.77% decrease from the prior quarters Benchmark Index of 62.38. As the attached graph indicates, the Benchmark Business Index is now near its lowest level since Kruggel Lawton launched the survey in 2010. Two of the Benchmark Index metrics revenue and profitability declined 12.38% and 10.81% respectively from the prior quarters survey. The employment and CFO outlook metrics also declined 6.02% and 5.47% from the prior quarters results. All four metrics have now dipped below their level when the survey began in the 4th quarter of 2010. After seeing the 4th quarter 2011 Benchmark Index increase 10% and hold steady in the first two quarters of 2012, its a bit worrisome to see it decline this much in the 3rd quarter of this year, said Terry J. Bush, SPHR, a Director at Kruggel Lawton CPAs. Unfortunately, all four survey metrics declined for the third quarter, leading to an almost 10% decrease in the overall Benchmark Index from the last quarter. rd Summary results of the 3 Quarter 2012 survey are illustrated in the graphs on the following page. With offices in South Bend and Elkhart, Kruggel, Lawton & Company, LLC is a full-service accounting and business consulting firm offering audit and accounting services, tax consulting, estate planning, business valuation, small business accounting services, and executive recruitment. Kruggel Lawton also has national and international capabilities as an independent member of the BDO Seidman Alliance. Learn more at www.klcpas.com.
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