Prime Advantage has released the findings from itsthird annual Group CFO Survey , revealing the top financial concerns of its member companies’ CFOs in 2011. Prime Advantage is a buying group for North America-based small and midsized manufacturers, with more than 700 manufacturers as members.

Highlights of this year’s survey include:

  • Nearly all respondents are planning significant capital expenditures in 2011, with 88 % indicating they will buy manufacturing equipment and 56 % planning to buy computer hardware.

  • 74% said the ability to use business investment tax credits is accelerating plans to invest in manufacturing equipment this year

  • 86 % said their customers are at least somewhat affected by the cost or availability of credit, though forty-five percent said borrowing conditions have improved since 2010

  • Health insurance premiums increased for all respondents in 2010, with 48 percent experiencing an increase in costs of 11% or more.