Text size
This commentary was issued recently by money managers, research firms, and market newsletter writers and has been edited by Barron’s.
Small Business in Distress
Daily Insights
BCA Research
May 11: The US NFIB Small Business Optimism Index was unchanged in April, remaining at 93.2. Small-business owners’ sentiment has been deteriorating since mid-2021, with rising inflation being reported as the top concern. The six-month outlook fell to an all-time low.
Although the net share of businesses reporting price increases decreased slightly in April, it remains elevated, with 70% of respondents passing on higher costs to their customers. A smaller-yet-still-elevated 47% of respondents are planning to hike prices further. Finding workers continues to be a struggle for small-business owners. Among those hiring, 93%…
