Introduction. Small and medium-sized businesses are an important factor in the economic development of the Russian Federation, providing employment, stimulating innovation and creating a competitive environment.
Effective monitoring of the activities of small and medium-sized businesses plays a crucial role in timely identification of problems and opportunities, making informed management decisions and developing government support.
The study assumes the identification of statistically significant correlations between such indicators as the number of small and medium-sized businesses and their availability of bank credit resources.
Materials and methods. The research was conducted using general scientific methods, including an analysis of the authors' works. Statistical data on the activities of small and medium-sized businesses in the federal districts, published by the Federal State Statistics Service, as well as from official statistics, regulatory documents and the legislative framework of the Russian Federation, were used for the analysis.
The use of statistical methods, such as the Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, seems to be a promising tool for analyzing and evaluating the relationships between various performance indicators of small and medium-sized businesses in the context of the federal districts of Russia.
Results and conclusions. The analysis of the activities of small and medium-sized businesses in the federal districts of the Russian Federation is carried out according to the following criteria: the number of subjects; the number of employees; the provision of business entities with banking and credit resources. The Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients have been calculated, which makes it possible to identify differences in the structure of the relationships between indicators in various federal districts, characterized by the peculiarities of the regional economy, the level of infrastructure development and the effectiveness of government support measures.
The results of this study can be used by government authorities to develop more effective measures to support small and medium-sized businesses that take into account the specifics of various federal districts and the dynamics of changes in the economy.
Discussion. The results of the study can be useful for small and medium-sized businesses, allowing them to plan their activities more effectively and make informed management decisions for sustainable development. Understanding the relationships between different indicators will allow small and medium-sized businesses to more accurately assess risks and opportunities, as well as to optimize their business processes.
Correlation analysis allows to identify the relationships between the indicators, but does not explain the cause-and-effect relationships. For a deeper understanding of the factors influencing the development of small and medium-sized businesses, additional research needs to be conducted, including using econometric models and qualitative methods.