Small Business Forecast

Headwinds of inflation still blowing hard in the face of small employers on Main Street. At same time, their negativity towards local and national economic conditions is lessening.

Confidence is down, but the road ahead may be good for employers on Main Street.

Good news is that small businesses’ views on the economy are improving. Bad news is that inflation is pushing back hiring plans for small business owners.

Latest data show revenue and profit expectations holding steady. However, inflationary concerns are also holding steady.

Wage inflation is finally cooling off except for the warehousing and construction sectors. This is welcome news for small employers who have faced a 6-year worker shortage.

Inflation tops the list of concerns for small businesses unless you’re in the construction industry where finding employees is top challenge. Small businesses are still bullish on 2024.

Partly cloudy, especially for wholesale sector and construction industry— desperate for workers. Other Main Street employers doing pretty well. 75% are positive about cash flow through 2024.

The latest data show more small business owners positive about the economy than negative. Revenue expectations remain high, but profitability expectations are flat, reflecting continued anxiety over inflation.

Things looking pretty good for small business, with continued optimism for revenue growth this year. The clouds that remain on the horizon are mostly because of higher costs, especially to keep and hire good employees.

No surprise that when the Superbowl generates $17.3 billion in economic activity that sunshine is in the forecast this week.

Holly says “partly cloudy.” Tom says “sunny.” Learn why from latest small business data.

Good GDP numbers and data showing a strong Q4 for small business earnings equates to a “sunny” forecast this week.

Sunny = small businesses feeling good about cash flow and revenues. Cold = high interest rates crimping small businesses’ growth plans.

Sunny - 2023 was record year for new business starts. Partly Sunny - small businesses postponing growth because of high interest rates.

Sunny - small business optimism is bolstered by speculation that interest rates won’t continue to rise and that inflation reached its peak last year. Cloudy - worker shortages may be the new normal and small employers are considering growth strategies that aren’t overly dependent on hiring more employees.

How will small businesses grow without adding employees? The answer will be answered by successful employers on Main Streets all over America throughout 2024z

Inflation remains small businesses’ top concern and anxiety over lower margins caused by higher costs continues. Small businesses’ views on their own health and cash flow remain positive.

Partly cloudy forecast this week and a hope for sun when CPI shows inflation going down.

Robust holiday sales, especially for small businesses selling online, are bright spots of sunshine this week. Inflation and rising concerns over federal red tape are the clouds that prevent clear sunny skies on the horizon.

Online sales records in the U.S. benefit small businesses more than ever before because COVID forced Main Street businesses online.

Main Street businesses hoping for robust holiday sales, especially on Small Business Saturday.

This weeks forecast is partly sunny. Small business owners are doing well, but clouds of inflation, worker shortages, energy costs, and interest rates are ever-present.

Partly cloudy (or partly sunny) forecast on Main Street this week. Tom is worried about small businesses’ outlook on profitability.

Positive data from small business equates to nice temperatures, but political uncertainty is making the skies cloudy.

Still cloudy on Main Street, but individual small business owners are experiencing decent weather. Latest data from NFIB and U.S. Chamber show amazing small business resilience, but anxiety over domestic and global political turmoil.

Small business owners remain confident in their own operations, but uncertainty nationally and globally is making Main Street’s outlook cloudy.

Optimism towards future revenues buoys Main Street and anxiety over uncertainty emanating from Washington is cause for concern.

Small businesses are doing well, but several factors that may curb spending threaten their wellbeing.

Confidence on Main Street remains high, but thunderstorms caused by concerns over energy prices threaten small businesses’ otherwise pleasant weather.

Sunny weather for small employers, but worker shortages, especially in rural areas, spur negative outlook.

Sunny weather on Main Street with good data from NFIB and the U.S.Chamber of Commerce. A real question about whether storm clouds are threats or opportunities.

Lots of data on how well things are going on Main Street. Hence, a sunny forecast. Attitudes about national economy are negative and account for storm clouds on horizon.

Small businesses are doing well. It’s looking sunny and a little hazy from rising interest rates. Inflation is a major headwind, but small employers are persevering.

Small business data indicates good weather on Main Street. Amazing, given inflation and high interest rates. 8-yr challenge to hiring good employees continues.

Job numbers and small business optimism look good even though high inflation and interest rates are storm clouds on the horizon.

Good sales, job numbers, and optimism combine for a positive outlook. Still-high inflation and worker shortages remain, but seem to be lessening. Anxiety over federal regulatory overreach is omnipresent and equates to “threat of storms on the horizon” for small employers across America.

Small businesses are doing well, but inflation, worker shortages, and more potential rate hikes are causing anxiety on Main Streets across America.

National economic news is good, so why are Main Street employers anxious? Spoiler alert: Inflation and worker shortages.

Main Street employers are doing pretty well and are bullish on future sales and hiring . However, high inflation, worker shortages, and more interest rate hikes make otherwise “sunny” weather seem awful.

Positive revenue projections bolster the “partly sunny” forecast. Main Street employers resilient in face of high inflation, worker shortages, and expected rate increases.

Partly sunny, but storm clouds threaten, with more rate hikes and red tape emanating from Washington.

Some good news (Fed didn’t raise rates and data on new housing construction) prompts a sunnier forecast for America’s small business community.

National forecast is still cloudy, but a few Supreme Court decisions are bright spot.

High inflation doesn’t seem to allow small employers to hire. Yet, national employment numbers are strong? Confusion equates to a cloudy forecast for small business

Gloomy forecast w/ inflation still high, rising interest rates curbing small biz growth plans, and looming threat of U.S. defaulting on its debt.

Outlook dims on Main Street as inflation dampens forecast.

The stickiness of high inflation is putting a damper on the national small business forecast.

Partly cloudy forecast for Main Street economy. Storm clouds looming. Small businesses remain confident in their own operations while souring on national outlook.