Global| Aug 08 2006Small Business Optimism Recovered
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
Small business optimism last month recovered most of the June decline with a 1.4% rise, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). Nevertheless, the average level of the NFIB index this year remained 2.5% [...]
Small business optimism last month recovered most of the June decline with a 1.4% rise, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). Nevertheless, the average level of the NFIB index this year remained 2.5% below the 2005 average.
During the last ten years there has been a 70% correlation between the level of the NFIB index and the two quarter change in real GDP.
Respondents expecting the economy to improve rose modestly m/m but remained near the lowest level since early 2001.
The percentage of firms planning to increase employment improved markedly m/m but the number of firms currently with one or more job openings slipped. During the last ten years there has been a 72% correlation between the NFIB percentage and the y/y change in nonfarm payrolls.
The percent planning to raise capital expenditures rose to 31%, about the same as last year..The percentage of firms planning to raise average selling prices rose back to 30% and the percentage of firms actually raising prices was stable m/m at 23%. During the last ten years there has been a 60% correlation between the change in the producer price index and the level of the NFIB price index.
About 24 million businesses exist in the United States. Small business creates 80% of all new jobs in America.
| Nat'l Federation of Independent Business | July | June | Y/Y | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Business Optimism Index (1986=100) | 98.1 | 96.7 | -3.0% | 101.6 | 104.6 | 101.3 |
Tom Moeller
AuthorMore in Author Profile »Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio. Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984. He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C. In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists. Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.
