With all of the talk of H1N1 Virus/Swine Flu, doctors are probably no longer worrying about navigating their practice through the economic downturn.  People who may have been trying to cut expenses by putting off their trip to the doctor are unlikely to be doing so if they think their illness could be related to the new virus.

Data from Sageworks shows that doctors’ offices are actually doing pretty well in the current economic climate; offices of physicians saw their top-line sales grow by an average of 5.7% over the last 12 months.

 Businesses providing “need-to-haves” are faring relatively well this year. 

Sageworks released data today looking at the top 30 industries over the past 12 months by sales growth.  The ranking is below along with an outline of the types of privately held businesses that are found in the list. 

Health Care: Of the 30 industries listed, four are related to healthcare.  Home health care services saw sales grow an average 14.49% during the past 12 months.  Medical and diagnostic laboratories saw an average 13.12% growth in sales during the same time period.  The medical equipment and supplies manufacturing industry also experienced sales growth, up an average 12.26 percent.  Outpatient care centers saw an average 11.08% growth in sales over the past 12 months.   These health care industries are still growing, especially as generations such as the baby boomers are getting older.

Petroleum, Coal & Mining: Petroleum Wholesalers (16.31%) and Petroleum & Coal Products Manufacturers (12.97%) are both on the best-performing industries list.  Also, businesses providing support activities for Mining (17.76%) and Metal and Mineral Wholesalers (10.18%) fell in the top 25 industries by sales growth over the last 12 months. 

Waste Services: Businesses providing necessary services have proven to be relatively recession-proof; this may be because many of these services are contracted by cities and towns across the nation.  Remediation and Other Waste Management Services saw average sales growth of 14.85% over the past 12 months and Waste Collection companies saw sales grow by an average of 13.34% in the same period.

Technology & Telecommunications: Software Providers (14.18%), Other Telecommunications businesses (providers of specialized telecommunications applications, such as satellite tracking – 13.49%), and companies providing Computer Systems Design Services (10.77%) all fell in the top 25 industries by sales growth over the past 12 months.  Technology is still moving forward even as the economy slows. 

Agriculture: Farm Product Raw Material Wholesalers (21,7%), Cattle Ranching & Farming (19.45%), and businesses providing Support Activities for Agriculture & Forestry (13.44%) all grew at a healthy rate this year.  This may be attributable to the fact that agriculture-related industries are providing many “need-to-haves”. Crops and commodities are essential as a source of food and raw materials, so as the economy weakens and consumers are more watchful for bargains or scaling back to only things they need, industries involving farming should be some of the last to be affected by the pained economy.

 Accounting: Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping and Payroll Services businesses grew at an average of 11.87% over the last 12 months.  With all of the skepticism about the future of banks and businesses, it is no wonder that accounting firms are growing their revenues this year.  An accountant or CPA, who is often a business owner’s closest advisor, is likely to be utilized during the current time to discuss how to manage a business in a tough economy; business owners may seek as much advice as possible to ensure that the bottom line stays above water. 

It appears that recessionary forces have intensified in the 4th quarter for the private retail trade sector.

According to Sageworks Private Sector Index, both accounts receivable and accounts payable days are at a record high based on a study of month over month comparisons for the last three years.

The average number of AR days, or average number of days to collect on accounts due has increased 40% from previous Oct readings, up to 18.82 from 13.48 average days. AP days are also up from 22.50 average days to 31.88, an increase of 41%.

More means less in this case, and the jump in accounts receivables and payable days indicates that retail businesses are receiving payment for goods sold more slowly, while also paying down their own bills much later.

In a recent report from the WSJ, late payments from customers of privately held retail businesses have not only affected revenue collections from sales, but have also detrimentally slowed down payments to suppliers.

Several retailers from Sageworks Index reporting increased receivables include:

Managing receivables is a key to maintaining strong cash flow in a small business, and data from Sageworks, Inc. shows that retailers have been troubled with substantial decreases in cash flow over recent months.

According to Sageworks Index, cash flow for private retailers as approximated by the EBITDA margin is currently down -10.98% as of Nov 1 over the trailing three months.

Increases in AR and AP days may also indicate that businesses have extended credit to buyers and/or may be taking advantage of trade credits from suppliers, but underlying problems now in retail are more closely related to general economic conditions where consumers are more pessimistic than ever. The Oct Univ Michigan/Reuters Consumer Index reported the strongest monthly movement in over half a century, down 12.7 points to 56.7. IHS global economist Brian Bethune recently commented, “The economy is now navigating through the eye of the storm, with recessionary forces intensifying in the fourth quarter of 2008,”