U.S. Small Business Optimism Improves Slightly

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) indicated that its Small Business Optimism Index improved 0.2% (2.8% y/y) to 104.5 during February and added to its 1.6% January rise. The reading remained 4.0% below the high reached in August 2018.

The net percentage of firms expecting the economy to improve rose to 22% from 14%, but most other readings in the survey weakened. The net percentage of firms expecting higher real sales fell to 19% and reversed part of its January rise. The net percentage reporting that now was a good time to expand the business also declined modestly. 

On the labor front, there was improvement. The net percentage of firms planning to increase employment rose m/m to 21%, its highest level in three months. Nevertheless, it remained below the expansion high of 26% in August 2018. A higher 52% of businesses found few or no qualified candidates to fill job openings. It was the most in three months but still down from 57% in August of last year.

A steady net 36% of firms raised worker compensation, just below the expansion high of 37% reached in September 2018. Working the other way, a greatly reduced 19% of firms were planning to raise worker earnings last month, down from the 26% expansion high reached three months earlier.

Current pricing power deteriorated as a net 11% of firms reported raising prices and that mostly reversed three months of increase. A sharply lower net 20% of firms planned to raise average selling prices, increased from 15% in September.

Credit became easier to get. Only a net one percent of firms reported trouble obtaining financing. Sixteen percent of firms reported difficulty near the end of the recession in 2009. A lessened net two percent of firms were not satisfied that their borrowing needs were met in the last three months.

The small business survey inquires about additional issues facing small business. A lessened 25% reported a problem with the quality of labor and a greatly reduced 14% indicated that taxes were the largest problem. Government requirements were worrisome to a steady 13% of respondents. That remained below the September 2013 high of 24%. A steady eight percent of firms reported the cost of labor as the most significant problem, down from the record 11% in September of last year. Insurance cost/availability concerned a greatly increased 12% of respondents. Competition from large businesses was felt by a slightly higher 10% of businesses as the biggest problem. Poor sales were significant for just seven percent of businesses, down from 32% in 2009. Financial & interest rate problems worried just two percent of respondents. Inflation concerned a steady one percent of respondents as the biggest problem.

Roughly 24 million small businesses exist in the U.S. and they create 80% of all new jobs. The index is based 1986=100. The typical NFIB member employs 10 people and reports gross sales of about $500,000 a year.

The NFIB figures can be found in Haver's SURVEYS database.