NFIB Research Foundation has collected Small Business Economic Trends data with quarterly surveys since the 4th quarter of 1973 and monthly surveys since 1986. Survey respondents are drawn from NFIB’s membership. The report is released on the second Tuesday of each month. This survey was conducted inNovember 2015. A sample of 3,938 small-business owners/members was drawn with 601 usable responses received for a response rate of 15%.
NOVEMBER 2015 REPORT:
SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC TRENDS
SMALL BUSINESS OPTIMISM COLLAPSES IN NOVEMBER AFTER THREE STAGNANT MONTHS
NFIB SMALL BUSINESS OPTIMISM INDEX DROPPED 1.3 POINTS TO 94.8
NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index collapsed unchanged in October, posting no change after a rise of only 0.2 points in September and a gain of only 0.5 in August.
“During this holiday season, small business owners are finding little to be hopeful or optimistic about including the economy in the New Year. This month’s Index continues to signal a lackluster economy and shows that the small business sector has no expansion energy whatsoever.
“Uncertainty in DC, federal agencies playing politics and a President that is willing to punish the current economy for inconsequential environmental benefits in the future indicates that business conditions will not be revived anytime soon. Even though there is talk that the Fed will be raising rates this month, it will hardly signal that they are feeling more optimistic about the economy.
“Overall, the outlook remains the same with a slow 2 percent-ish growth and there is still not much pressure on prices from Main Street. All we can do at this point is hope for a more business friendly New Year.” — Bill Dunkelberg, NFIB Chief Economist
