Sir, – It’s astonishing to read that it took a survey to tell us the majority of SMEs have experienced cost increases over the past six months (Business News, May 27th). Nor should it be any surprise that global fuel shortages and rising energy costs, resulting from the current conflict in the gulf, have negatively impacted their businesses.To cap it all, the survey discovered that some enterprises expected to be worse off in the coming months. Join the club folks. The average person on the street could have told you the exact same story. As for their assertion that the existing Government supports are not reaching them effectively and that they need more accessible supports ... Again, join the club. – Yours, etc,PAT MULLEN,Kilkerley,Co Louth.