Increased optimism among small businesses about the U.S. economy is carrying over to their banking relationships.Falling inflation, a friendlier Federal Reserve and diminishing concerns about a recession have elevated small business owners’ and... Read Story

The national Citizens Business Conditions Index (CBCI) rose to 51.8 in the fourth quarter, supported by continued resilience in the labor market and consumer trends. The second consecutive quarterly reading above 50 indicates that the economy exited... Read Story

The 2024 CFO Outlook Survey found that with continued economic uncertainty tied to interest rates, inflation, geopolitics, and the upcoming presidential election, many CFOs have moderate expectations for 2024 compared to the previous year: Now, 32... Read Story

Middle market private companies in the Golub Capital Altman Index grew earnings by 16 percent during the first two months of the fourth quarter of 2023, the highest year-over-year earnings growth since Q2 of 2021. Revenue grew 7 percent during the... Read Story

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group's (MUFG's) U.S. Macro Strategy team released its 2024 outlook report titled "Getting Back in Sync?" providing a forward-looking perspective on the U.S. fixed income markets and the macroeconomic factors impacting the... Read Story

A strong labor market and resilient consumer trends supported a slight improvement in economic conditions during the third quarter as inflation showed some signs of abating, according to the national Citizens Business Conditions Index (CBCI). After... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased half of a point in September to 90.8. September’s reading marks the 21st consecutive month below the 49-year average of 98. Twenty-three percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most... Read Story

Middle market private companies in the Golub Capital Altman Index grew earnings by 13% during the first two months of the third quarter of 2023, the highest year-over-year earnings growth since Q3 of 2021. Revenue grew 8% during the same... Read Story

The RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI), presented by RSM US LLP ("RSM") in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, remained essentially unchanged, inching down to 129.3 in the third quarter from 131.1 in the prior quarter on a... Read Story

NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index decreased 0.6 of a point in August to 91.3, the 20th consecutive month below the 49-year average of 98. Twenty-three percent of small business owners reported that inflation was their single most important... Read Story

Nearly eight out of 10 small business owners feel a strong degree of confidence that their companies will grow over the next year even amid rocky market conditions, according to a new survey.The ninth annual First Citizens Bank Small Business... Read Story

Forty-two percent of small business owners (seasonally adjusted) reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, according to NFIB’s monthly jobs report. The percent of small business owners reporting labor quality as their top small... Read Story

Truck freight volume and spending in the second quarter of 2023 declined by the highest levels since the early days of the pandemic, the latest U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index revealed. Spending by shippers dropped 10.9 percent compared to the second... Read Story

Rapid interest rate increases to curb inflation continue to weigh on economic conditions, according to the national Citizens Business Conditions Index (CBCI). A rise in unemployment insurance claims and a slowdown in small business formation caused... Read Story

Despite economic challenges, 75 percent of mid-sized business owners expect their revenue to increase and 71 percent are planning to hire over the next 12 months, according to the inaugural Bank of America Mid-Sized Business Owner Report (PDF). The... Read Story

Despite continued macroeconomic challenges, just under half of U.S. midsize business leaders expect a recession in the second half of 2023, finds JPMorgan Chase’s 2023 Midyear Business Leaders Outlook survey released today. Forty-five percent of... Read Story

The majority of U.S. small business owners (72 percent) are concerned about the impact of a potential recession, however, 76 percent are confident their business could withstand the downturn, according to the Bank of America 2023 Small Business Owner... Read Story

Citizens announced its national Citizens Business Conditions Index (CBCI) rose to 53.9 in the first quarter, reflecting continued strength in the labor market, more new business openings and positive corporate revenue trends. The Index had dipped... Read Story

FTI Consulting released the findings of its 2023 U.S. Loan Market Survey, which offers insight into bank and non-bank lenders’ perspectives on the U.S. loan industry and highlights expectations for leveraged credit market conditions in 2023.This... Read Story

The fourth quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” survey results reveals the imminent threat of a slow-down in consumer spending.With extra tax credits and pandemic-related stimulus payments halted, the IRS has warned Americans to... Read Story

Bank economists expect credit conditions to weaken over the next six months as economic growth slows and interest rates trend higher, according to the American Bankers Association’s latest Credit Conditions Index released today.The latest summary of... Read Story

The RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI), presented by RSM US LLP (RSM) in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, increased to 134 in the first quarter, up 9.4 points from the previous quarter. Easing inflation and solid household... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased 0.5 points in January to 90.3, remaining below the 49-year average of 98. Down six points from last month, 26 percent of owners reported inflation was their single most important problem in operating... Read Story

Chief Financial Officers view inflation and cost of capital as the top two risks facing their businesses as they prepare for slower growth over the next 18 months, according to findings from a new survey conducted by the Office of the CFO Solutions... Read Story

New data  released from Chubb and the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM), reveals a rebound in middle market economic confidence from mid-year 2022, but confidence has yet to return to the historical levels experienced in 2021. More than... Read Story

The global economy shows signs of steadying, however, many indicators remain weaker than a year ago, according to the Global Economic Conditions Survey (GECS) for Q4 2022 from ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and IMA... Read Story

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group's (MUFG's) Capital Markets Strategy team released its 2023 outlook titled "The New Macro Supercycle" providing a forward-looking perspective on the global economy, monetary policy and markets in the next 12 months—and... Read Story

Provident Bank released the results of its 2023 Economic Outlook Survey. The survey polled 1,000 small-to-medium-sized business owners and executives and explores predictions for 2023’s economic outlook in addition to measuring respondents' thoughts... Read Story

The majority of small and midsize U.S. business leaders anticipate a recession in 2023, according to JPMorgan Chase’s 2023 annual Business Leaders Outlook survey released today. In total, 65 percent of midsize businesses and 61 percent of small... Read Story

The national Citizens Business Conditions Index (CBCI) rose to 56.1 in the third quarter, regaining momentum after a drop in second quarter economic sentiment prompted by inflation concerns. This quarter’s score extends the index’s streak to eight... Read Story

Small and mid-size business owners and executives have an optimistic outlook about the near-term future of their businesses as they ride out inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions and political and geopolitical uncertainties related to the... Read Story

New data released from Chubb and the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM), housed at The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business, reveals that middle market firms are continuing to report sustained growth despite ongoing... Read Story

Citizens announced that the national Citizens Business Conditions Index™ (CBCI) dropped to 52.9 in the second quarter of 2022, down from its eight-year peak of 59.5 at the end of the first quarter, but extending its streak to seven straight quarters... Read Story

The NFIB Research Center released a new survey assessing the impact inflation is having on small businesses. Overall, over half (56 percent) of small employers reported that inflation is having a substantial impact on their business while about a... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index dropped 3.6 points in June to 89.5, marking the sixth consecutive month below the 48-year average of 98. Small business owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months decreased seven points... Read Story

NFIB’s monthly jobs report shows half of small business owners (seasonally adjusted) reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, down one point from May’s 48-year record high. Twenty-three percent of owners said that labor... Read Story

The 2022 State of Logistics Report was unveiled at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., with the 33rd annual publication finding that U.S.-based supply chains are out of sync, while adjusting to short-term changes and perhaps uncovering... Read Story

Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation, released its annual 2022 Business Barometer, an in-depth study into the mood, mindset, and strategic priorities of leaders at small and middle market companies across the United States. This... Read Story

The NFIB Optimism Index fell 0.1 points in May to 93.1, marking the fifth consecutive month below the 48-year average of 98. Owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months decreased four points to a net negative 54 percent, the... Read Story

Inflation worries, a tight labor market and global fallout from the Russo-Ukraine war have dropped business executives’ view of U.S. economic prospects to its lowest level since 2011, according to the second-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey. The... Read Story

The second quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” survey results reveal supply chain disruptions and continued inflation to be the biggest concerns for consumers and the U.S. economy.Phoenix’s Q2 2022 “Lending Climate in America”... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index was unchanged in April, remaining at 93.2 and the fourth consecutive month below the 48-year average of 98. Small business owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months decreased one point... Read Story

Small business owners continue to attempt to fill historically high levels of open positions, according to NFIB’s monthly jobs report. Twenty-three percent of owners said that labor quality was their top business problem, up one point from last month... Read Story

Citizens announced that the national Citizens Business Conditions Index™ (CBCI) reached 59.5 for the first quarter of 2022, up markedly from 54.4 at the end of 2021 and reaching its highest level since Citizens began tracking the data in 2014... Read Story

The NFIB Research Center released a new survey assessing the impact inflation is having on small businesses. Small business owners first signaled inflation issues in the summer of 2021 when NFIB’s Small Business Economic Trends survey found... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased in March by 2.4 points to 93.2, the third consecutive month below the 48-year average of 98. Thirty-one percent of owners reported that inflation was the single most important problem in their business... Read Story

The labor shortage continues to be a major challenge for small businesses as owners compete for workers, according to NFIB’s monthly jobs report. Twenty-two percent of owners reported that labor quality was their top business problem, in second place... Read Story

The NFIB Research Center released the latest COVID-19 survey assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses. This is the 22nd survey in the series and includes an update on prices, supply chain disruptions, sales levels, staffing... Read Story

The RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI), presented by RSM US LLP (“RSM”) in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, eased to 125.1 in the first quarter of this year from 130 in the previous quarter as the omicron variant and rising... Read Story

Supply chain issues top the list of concerns for small business owners over the last six months but they see those pressures easing by mid-year. In the meantime, inflation pressures are expected to continue to impact these business owners, with a... Read Story

In February, the NFIB Optimism Index decreased by 1.4 points to 95.7, the second consecutive month below the 48-year average of 98. Twenty-six percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem in operating their... Read Story

Small businesses continued to struggle to increase their workforce in February, with 22 percent of owners reporting that labor quality was their top business problem, according to NFIB’s monthly jobs report. Eleven percent of owners cited labor costs... Read Story

Inflation fears, supply chain woes and a lack of skilled job candidates continue to dampen business executives’ views on the U.S. economy, according to the first-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey. The survey polls chief executive officers, chief... Read Story

Year-end 2021 data from Chubb and the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM), housed at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, reveals that middle market firms' optimistic economic outlook and continued recovery from the pandemic... Read Story

Cerebro Capital, a commercial loan marketplace, released its Q4 2021 survey on non-bank lending for middle-market commercial and industrial (C&I) loans. Cerebro reports commercial lenders continued to ease lending standards in the fourth quarter... Read Story

BMO Economics has introduced its BMO Economics Inflation Monitor, a new weekly summary of developments affecting the outlook for inflation. Released every Monday, the weekly report will monitor key news, announcements – both recent and upcoming –... Read Story

A historic number of small businesses are struggling to increase their workforce, according to NFIB’s monthly jobs report. A net 50 percent (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported raising compensation, up two points from December and... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased slightly in January to 97.1, down 1.8 points from December. Inflation remains a problem for small businesses as 22 percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important business... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased slightly in December to 98.9, up 0.5 points from November. Twenty-two percent of small business owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem encountered in operating their... Read Story

Middle market private companies in the Golub Capital Altman Index experienced EBITDA growth of 22% and revenue growth of 21% in October and November 2021 compared to their October and November 2019 earnings and revenue. The data in this report... Read Story

Economic growth will slow relative to last year’s robust pace but remain above long-run potential, according to the latest forecast of the American Bankers Association’s Economic Advisory Committee. The EAC consensus forecast also anticipates softer... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased slightly in November by 0.2 points to 98.4. Four of the 10 Index components improved, four declined, and two were unchanged. The NFIB Uncertainty Index decreased four points to 63.“As the end of the... Read Story

The fourth-quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” survey results reveal supply chain constraints are the biggest concern for the U.S economy as we enter 2022.COVID-19 has amplified the carrier shortage causing major supply chain... Read Story

Small business owners continue to struggle to increase their workforce with 29 percent of owners reporting labor quality as their top business problem in November, a 48-year record high. Ten percent of owners cited labor costs as their top problem... Read Story

Inflation fears and a tough hiring environment continue to drag down optimism in the U.S. economy, according to the fourth-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey. The survey polls chief executive officers, chief financial officers, controllers and... Read Story

The RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI), presented by RSM US LLP ("RSM") in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, posted a reading of 129.7 for the final quarter of 2021, which is an expected decline from the index's all-time peak of... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased slightly in October by 0.9 points to 98.2. One of the 10 Index components improved, seven declined and two were unchanged.“Small business owners are attempting to take advantage of current economic... Read Story

The NFIB Research Center released its latest COVID-19 survey assessing how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected small businesses. This is the 20th survey in the series and includes updates on supply chain disruptions, the staffing shortage and... Read Story

From the third quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” survey results reveal a weakened U.S. economy in the near and long term.After a brief resurgence, lenders displayed a more adverse outlook and assessment of the U.S. economy for... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased one point in September to 99.1. Three of the 10 Index components improved, five declined and two were unchanged.“Small business owners are doing their best to meet the needs of customers, but are... Read Story

Fifty-one percent (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, up one point from August and a record-high reading for the second consecutive month, according to NFIB’s monthly jobs... Read Story

Balboa Capital, a business lender that specializes in small business loans and equipment financing, announced the results of its Q3 2021 Small Business Owner Survey, which was sent to a sample of small business owners (SBOs) nationwide during the... Read Story

Business owners are feeling optimistic about the near-term future of their businesses amid increasing vaccination rates, and those who report that more than three-quarters of their workforce has been vaccinated are the most positive about their... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased in August to 100.1, up 0.4 points from July. Five of the 10 Index components improved, four declined, and one was unchanged. The NFIB Uncertainty Index decreased seven points to 69, the lowest level... Read Story

Fifty percent of all small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, a record high reading according to NFIB’s monthly jobs report. The number of unfilled job openings has remained far above the 48-year... Read Story

The NFIB Research Center released a quarterly Small Business Economic Trends industry report highlighting the construction, manufacturing, retail and services industries. NFIB’s July Small Business Economic Trends report showed the overall Optimism... Read Story

The RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI), presented by RSM US LLP ("RSM") in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, increased from 133.6 in the second quarter to 145.5 in the third quarter of 2021. The data revealed that business... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased in July to 99.7, a decrease of 2.8 points, reversing June’s 2.9-point gain. Six of the 10 components declined, three improved and one was unchanged. The NFIB Uncertainty Index decreased seven points to... Read Story

Economic activity in the services sector grew in July for the 14th month in a row, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest Services ISM Report On Business.The report was issued by Anthony Nieves, CPSM, C.P.M., A.P.P., CFPM... Read Story

Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation, released its annual 2021 Business Barometer, an in-depth study into the mood, mindset and strategic priorities of nearly 1,200 leaders at small and middle market companies across the United... Read Story

According to NFIB’s monthly jobs report, 46 percent of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, down two points from May but still above the 48-year historical average of 22 percent. Small business owners... Read Story

The Credit Managers’ Index from the National Association of Credit Management for June 2021 notes further slowdown in most categories but overall numbers remain strong.Current assessments of the U.S. economy visualize it as on fire, and the question... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 0.2 points in May to 99.6. May saw a slight pause in the recovery of small business optimism after steadily increasing each month in 2021. As reported in NFIB’s monthly jobs report, a record-high 48 percent... Read Story

A record-high 48 percent of small business owners in May reported unfilled job openings (seasonally adjusted), according to NFIB’s monthly jobs report. May is the fourth consecutive month of record-high readings for unfilled job openings and is 26... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in May, with the overall economy notching a 12th consecutive month of growth, according to the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The report was issued by... Read Story

Business executives are predicting the economy will roar back in the coming year, with revenue and profit growth expectations not seen since 2018, according to the second-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey. The survey polls chief executive... Read Story

The National Association of Credit Management’s Credit Managers’ Index for May remains firmly in expansion and a sign of continued economic recovery.Month over month, the data changed very little from April to May. The combined score for the... Read Story

The second-quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” survey results reveal optimism in the U.S. economy with results for the near-term economy exceeding pre-pandemic predictions for the first time since the country shutdown due to COVID... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 99.8 in April, an increase of 1.6 points from March. The Optimism Index has increased 4.8 points over the past three months since January, but a record 44 percent of owners reported job openings that... Read Story

The CBIZ Small Business Employment Index (SBEI) reported a seasonally adjusted gain of 3.57 percent for April. The remarkable gain in the reading highlights the quickened pace of hiring efforts as small businesses engage in increased economic... Read Story

The National Association of Credit Management’s Credit Managers’ Index for April 2021 reached a high not seen for more than 15 years. The monthly combined index for manufacturing and service sectors broke through the 60 mark with a reading of 60.6... Read Story

New data from Chubb and the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM), housed at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, reveals that the worst of the pandemic’s economic impact might be in the rearview mirror for middle market... Read Story

Citizens announced that continued economic recovery from the shock of COVID-19 kept the past quarter’s national Citizens Business Conditions Index (CBCI) in upbeat territory, with another healthy reading of 53.3. This compares with the fourth quarter... Read Story

Balboa Capital, a direct lender that specializes in small business loans and equipment financing, announced the results of its Q2 2021 Small Business Owner Survey, which was conducted to gauge small business owner confidence, measure the strength of... Read Story

Following a challenging year marred by the impact of the pandemic, today's business owners are optimistic about the next six months and are reexamining their business and financial strategies as they seek opportunities to invest for growth, rebuild... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported that there is much to like about the current state of the U.S. economy, as well as from both freight and commercial vehicle demand perspectives.“From an economic standpoint... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 2.4 points in March to 98.2. March’s reading is the first return to the average historical reading since last November. The NFIB Uncertainty Index increased six points to 81, which was primarily driven by... Read Story

NACM's Credit Managers' Index (CMI) gained two points in March. Following four months of fluctuations, the March CMI reached its second-highest combined score in a year and just half a point shy of the highest seen in January."It is normally the task... Read Story

The NFIB Research Center released its latest COVID-19 survey on the impact the pandemic has had on small businesses. This survey marks NFIB’s 16th survey in the series, which started in early March 2020. Thirteen percent of small business owners... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in March, with the overall economy notching a 10th consecutive month of growth, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The report was issued by Timothy... Read Story

The first quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” survey results reveal the third stimulus package will cause inflationary pressure in the U.S. economy.The third stimulus package includes nearly $2 trillion in coronavirus relief funds... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 95.8 in February, a slight bump from January but still below the 47-year average reading of 98. The NFIB Uncertainty Index decreased five points to 75.“Small business owners worked hard in February to... Read Story

With the promise of expanded pandemic-related relief and an improving vaccine rollout, U.S. business executives are taking a more optimistic view of the U.S. economy for the coming year, according to the first-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey.... Read Story

The RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI), presented by RSM US LLP ("RSM") in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, rose slightly in January 2021 to 124 from 121 in December 2020, indicating that while the U.S. economy continues to see... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined in January to 95.0, down 0.9 from December and three points below the 47-year average of 98. Owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months declined seven points to a net negative... Read Story

The NFIB Research Center released its latest COVID-19 survey on the impact the pandemic has had on small businesses. This survey was conducted after the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) was signed into law, which reopened and modified... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined 5.5 points in December to 95.9, falling below the average Index value since 1973 of 98. Nine of the 10 Index components declined and only one improved. Owners expecting better business conditions over... Read Story

NACM’s Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) held strong in December with a combined score of 57.8, down a tenth of a point from November and 0.6 points from the high in October. December’s score is more than three points higher than December 2019.“It now... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined 2.6 points in November to 101.4 but remains well above the 47-year historical average reading of 98. Six of the 10 Index components declined and four increased. The NFIB Uncertainty Index decreased 8... Read Story

The NFIB Research Center released its latest survey focusing on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic and imposed shutdowns have had on small businesses. This is the 14th survey since early March. One-in-four small business owners reported that they will... Read Story

More than half of business executives (54 percent) say they expect some negative impact to their organizations if a renewed round of economic stimulus does not materialize by early 2021, according to the fourth-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey.... Read Story

The fourth quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” survey results reveal a slow and choppy recovery after COVID-19. While the majority of lenders surveyed seem to believe economic recovery after COVID-19 to be slow and choppy, the... Read Story

The November Credit Managers’ Index from NACM has come back down to earth slightly after hitting a 15-year high in October. The overall score of 57.9, down just half a point from October, is the second-highest reading in the last 12 months.“The... Read Story

The RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI), presented by RSM US LLP ("RSM") in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, remained steady in October, indicating the U.S. economy is continuing to emerge from the pandemic-induced recession. The... Read Story

The NFIB Optimism Index remained at 104.0 in October, unchanged from September and a historically high reading. Four of the 10 components improved, five declined and one was unchanged. Although all of the data was collected prior to Election Day, a... Read Story

The Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) has left pre-pandemic numbers in the dust. October’s CMI rose 2.4 points to 58.4, its highest combined score in more than a decade and a half. Primarily due to... Read Story

The NFIB Optimism Index rose 3.8 points to 104.0 in September, a historically high reading. Nine of the 10 Index components improved and one declined. The NFIB Uncertainty Index increased 2 points to 92, up from 75 in April.“As parts of the country... Read Story

Balboa Capital, a direct lender that specializes in equipment financing and small business loans, today announced the results of its latest survey, which was conducted to gain a better understanding of small business performance during the COVID-19... Read Story

NFIB’s Research Center released the latest survey relating to COVID-19 and its impact on the small business economy. The majority of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrowers have used all of their loans and are preparing to apply for... Read Story

The small business labor market continues to make improvements in September despite continued state and federal employment regulations related to COVID-19. According to NFIB’s monthly jobs report, 10 percent of owners reported increasing employment... Read Story

The Credit Managers’ Index from the National Association of Credit Management saw its first decline since rebounding after the massive spring setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the future is still bright. Although still in positive... Read Story

The NFIB Optimism Index increased 1.4 points in August to 100.2, a reading slightly above the historical 46-year average. Seven of the 10 Index components improved, two declined and one was unchanged. The NFIB Uncertainty Index increased two points... Read Story

Small business owners have faced unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic and are in the midst of great uncertainty with the upcoming presidential election. However, the Q3 Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index indicates there is a continued... Read Story

The NFIB Research Center released a Small Business Economic Trends Industry-specific survey highlighting the construction, manufacturing, retail and services industries. NFIB released a previous quarterly report in May 2020.“Small businesses are... Read Story

U.S. business executives are feeling more optimistic about expansion plans and the outlook for their own companies over the next 12 months, yet still harbor deep concerns about the strength of the U.S. and global economies in the midst of a worldwide... Read Story

The Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) has left pre-pandemic numbers in the dust. The August CMI reached a more than two-year high with a combined score of 56.5.—just better than January 2020 and... Read Story

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many U.S. CEOs remain confident in the growth prospects of the domestic economy and their companies and are accelerating investments in digital transformation, according to a study released today by KPMG LLP... Read Story

Umpqua Bank, a West Coast regional bank, released its “Business Resiliency” survey, a nationwide study gauging the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the confidence and future of U.S.-based small and mid-size businesses. More than 1,200 leaders at... Read Story

NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index fell 1.8 points to 98.8 in July, near the survey’s historical average. Overall, 4 of the 10 Index components improved, 5 declined, and 1 was unchanged. The NFIB Uncertainty Index increased 7 points to 88. Reports... Read Story

The latest Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch shows that employment growth moderated as new COVID-19 hot spots emerged in the South and West regions of the U.S. The national jobs index slipped 0.24 percent in July to 94.59. Hourly... Read Story

According to NFIB’s monthly jobs report, over half (51 percent) of small business owners reported hiring or trying to hire in July. Forty-four percent (86 percent of those hiring or trying to hire) reported few or no qualified applicants for the... Read Story

More than half (58 percent) of small business owners (SBOs) report they expect their revenue to decrease in 2020, even though 47 percent stated they did not have to close for any amount of time during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to results of TD... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in July, with the overall economy notching a third consecutive month of growth, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The report was issued by Timothy... Read Story

The Credit Managers’ Index from the National Association of Credit Management has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels after shutdowns and preventative measures greatly impacted the U.S. economy. Every factor of the combined July Credit Managers’ Index... Read Story

The NFIB Research Center released a survey on the state of small business and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP loan application is set to close on Aug. 8 after Congress extended the deadline to allow more small business owners to... Read Story

The Federal Reserve Board announced an extension through December 31 of its lending facilities that were scheduled to expire on or around September 30. The three-month extension will facilitate planning by potential facility participants and provide... Read Story

The Small Business Optimism Index increased 6.2 points in June to 100.6 with eight of the 10 components improving and two declining. Owners anticipate improving sales as the economy continues to re-open with sales expectations rebounding to a net 13... Read Story

The NFIB Research Center released its monthly jobs report, showing the small business labor market has further weakened in June. Firms reduced employment by 0.28 workers per firm over the past month, weaker than the decrease of 0.17 workers per firm... Read Story

The NFIB Research Center released a survey with an update on the state of small business and the progress with federal loan programs. Twenty-seven percent of owners reported experiencing a significant or moderate increase in sales due to eased... Read Story

The Small Business Optimism Index increased 3.5 points in May to 94.4, a strong improvement from April’s 90.9 reading. Eight of the 10 Index components improved in May and two declined. The NFIB Uncertainty Index increased seven points to 82. Reports... Read Story

Business confidence levels declined in the last week of May, according to the latest update to the IDC COVID-19 Tech Index. IT buyers in the U.S., Western Europe and some parts of Asia/Pacific indicated that they now expect total IT spending to... Read Story

Battered by repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic, business executives hold the most pessimistic view of the U.S. economy since the end of 2011, when the nation was still emerging from the lingering impact of the Great Recession, according to the... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in May, and the overall economy returned to expansion after one month of contraction, according to the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The report... Read Story

After what can be considered the worst month in the history of National Association of Credit Management’s Credit Managers’ Index (CMI), several factors rebounded in May. The current index showed many gains, especially in the favorable factors, but... Read Story

U.S. orders for durable goods sank sharply for a second straight month in April as the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on the manufacturing industry, Bloomberg reported.Bookings for the goods, meant to last at least three years, decreased 17.2... Read Story

In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research is predicting that the economy will transition from contraction to growth over the course of Q3 and Q4, acknowledging that after the current focus on saving lives will come the... Read Story

Leading indicators for IT spending appear to be stabilizing and bottoming out in many countries, reflecting a period of relative calm before economic lockdown measures are expected to be eased in the next few weeks. However, confidence levels in the... Read Story

From the second-quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” survey results reveal COVID-19 has created pessimism in the U.S. economy’s near-term performance.The outlook for the U.S. economy saw a significant decrease in the near-term. The... Read Story

The economic downturn in the U.S. will continue for the rest of 2020, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the Spring 2020 Semiannual Economic Forecast. Expectations for the remainder for 2020 have been clouded by the coronavirus... Read Story

Small business optimism took another dive in April, falling 5.5 points to 90.9, with owners expressing certainty the economy will weaken in the near-term, but expecting it to improve over the next six months. The Optimism Index has fallen 13.6 points... Read Story

Worldwide IT spending is now expected to decline 5.1 percent in constant currency terms this year to $2.25 trillion, as the economic impact of the COVD-19 pandemic continues to drive down some categories of tech spending and short-term business... Read Story

The Credit Managers’ Index from the National Association of Credit Management continued to slide in April as the coronavirus outbreak impacts spread across the U.S.To say the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from NACM is “down in the dumps” is an... Read Story

International Data Corporation (IDC) currently forecasts worldwide IT spending to decline 2.7 percent this year due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While every industry will be affected by the global slowdown, some will reduce their... Read Story

As the COVID-19 pandemic has strained the U.S. economy and put millions out of work, Americans have experienced the biggest drop in their personal financial satisfaction in more than a decade. The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) Q1 2020 Personal... Read Story

The third release of PwC’s COVID-19 CFO Pulse Survey reveals 26 percent of U.S. chief financial officers (CFOs) anticipate layoffs, a marked increase from two weeks ago, when PwC surveyed U.S. and Mexico CFOs and found that only 16 percent of them... Read Story

Fitch Ratings has revised its 2020 asset performance outlook for equipment lease ABS to negative from stable due to the economic effects of the coronavirus. Equipment loan and lease obligors, both large corporate and small commercial businesses, will... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 8.1 points in March to 96.4, the largest monthly decline in the survey’s history. Nine of the 10 Index components declined, which is evidence that economic disruptions are escalating on Main Street as small... Read Story

The second release of the PwC COVID-19 CFO Pulse Survey reveals growing concerns around the business and economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic among chief financial officers (CFOs) and finance executives. Based on responses collected from 55... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in March, and the overall economy grew for the 131st consecutive month, according to the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The report was issued... Read Story

From the first quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” survey results, which was conducted in late February, reveal the coronavirus and other factors will be leading economic driver in 2020.Lenders were asked to identify what they... Read Story

A record 3.28 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the country. The much-anticipated Labor Department report for the week ended March 21 was one of the first official indicators of... Read Story

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday unanimously backed a $2 trillion bill aimed at helping unemployed workers and industries hurt by the coronavirus epidemic, as well as providing billions of dollars to buy urgently needed medical equipment, Reuters... Read Story

Newly released by PwC, COVID-19 CFO Pulse Survey: What Finance Leaders Are Focused On reveals how chief financial officers (CFOs) and finance executives in the U.S. and Mexico plan to react to the COVID-19 outbreak and what business and economic... Read Story

The NFIB Research Center’s new survey on the current impact of the coronavirus outbreak on small business found that while most small businesses are not currently impacted, owners are concerned about future disruptions if the outbreak continues to... Read Story

Following eight straight years of strong optimism, construction industry executives say they are slightly cautious about 2020 for their business sector, according to the 44th annual Wells Fargo Construction Industry Forecast. Despite the shift, the... Read Story

Business executives’ outlook for the U.S. economy rose sharply in the past quarter, but concern is clearly growing about the potential global fallout from the spread of coronavirus, according to the first-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey. The... Read Story

China has been the focal point of the economic world, and rightfully so—trade wars and tariffs with the U.S. and now the outbreak of COVID-19, but credit professionals aren’t reporting much change in the latest Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from... Read Story

Half of corporate treasury and finance professionals do not believe an economic recession is a threat in 2020, according to a recent survey conducted by TD Bank, at the 2019 Association of Financial Professionals Annual Conference held in October in... Read Story

In its annual small business outlook survey, QuickBridge Funding reports 81 percent of business owners are confident their sales will increase in 2020. The Q1 survey data assessed small business owners’ expectations and challenges about growth, sales... Read Story

The NFIB small business Optimism Index started the New Year in the top 10 percent of all readings in the 46-year history of the survey, rising 1.6 points to 104.3 in the month of January. Six of the 10 Index components improved, two declined and two... Read Story

Deloitte CFO Signals Survey found Chief Financial Officials are anticipating a downturn. Expectations for a U.S. downturn have risen since earlier this year, with 97 percent of CFOs saying that a downturn (a slowdown or a recession) has already begun... Read Story

Most small and midsize U.S. business leaders expect continued growth for their companies this year amid a less robust economic environment, according to the annual JPMorgan Chase Business Leaders Outlook survey.Three out of four businesses – 76... Read Story

With declines across multiple sectors and categories, not much good can be found according to credit professionals, but there is still a silver lining in the latest Credit Managers’ Index from the National Association of Credit Management.Credit... Read Story

The competitive job market continues to drive wage growth higher, according to the latest Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch. Steady growth in hourly earnings and hours worked – with hours worked in December posting the strongest... Read Story

From the fourth-quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” survey, results reveal lenders expect a downturn in the U.S. economy in the long-term.The outlook for the U.S. economy in the long-term continued downward from last quarter as... Read Story

Small business optimism posted the largest month-over-month gain since May 2018, rising 2.3 points to 104.7 in November. The exceptional Optimism Index reading was bolstered by seven of the 10 Index components advancing, led by a 10-point improvement... Read Story

U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $376 million in October 2019 according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) Report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. October orders increased 2 percent... Read Story

Umpqua Bank, a West Coast regional bank, released its "State of the Middle Market 2020," a national survey gauging the confidence of companies that together account for one-third of all U.S. private sector GDP. More than 500 decision-makers at middle... Read Story

Credit managers across the U.S. are reporting what could be a positive holiday season after multiple improvements in the latest Credit Managers’ Index from the National Association of Credit Management.The Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) is trending... Read Story

The small business half of the economy continued its remarkable economic streak, posting a 0.6 point gain in October’s Optimism Index. The 102.4 reading was buoyed by eight of the 10 Index components advancing, as talk of a recession waned in October... Read Story

U.S. manufacturing technology orders fell 1 percent from the previous month to a total of $361.5 million in September 2019 according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report published by AMT—The Association For Manufacturing... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in October, and the overall economy grew for the 126th consecutive month, according to the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The report was issued by... Read Story

Credit managers across the U.S. are reporting better economic conditions, especially in the service sector of the latest Credit Managers’ Index from the National Association of Credit Management. The Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from NACM rebounded... Read Story

Chief Financial Officers’ views on the trajectory of North America’s and Europe’s economies hit six-year lows, according to the Deloitte CFO Signals Survey. For the first time in nearly seven years — since Q4 2012 — CFOs’ own-company optimism turned... Read Story

National Association of Credit Management’s Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) faltered a bit in September after a robust showing the previous month. “That gain was short-lived as this month there was a bit of a decline. The data is still pretty firmly in... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 1.6 points to 103.1, remaining within the top 15 percent of readings. Overall, August was a good month for small business. However, optimism slipped because fewer owners said they expect better business... Read Story

Business executives hold their least optimistic view of the U.S. economy in three years, in part due to trade concerns and fears of a sustained global slowdown, according to the third-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey. The survey polls chief... Read Story

A record percentage of small business owners reported having difficulties finding qualified workers in August, according to NFIB’s monthly jobs report.Twenty-seven percent ranked finding qualified workers as their No. 1 business problem, the report... Read Story

The Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management saw a positive uptick this month, climbing out of the lower index from July. The combined score read 55.2 for the month of August, a reading safely in the expansion... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in August, and the overall economy grew for the 124th consecutive month, according to the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The report was issued by... Read Story

Nearly three-quarters of economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics said the U.S. will have entered a recession by 2021, with 38 percent of respondents stating that will happen by 2020 and 34 percent predicting 2021.The... Read Story

Optimism among small business owners bounced back in July as expectations for business conditions, real sales and expansion made solid gains. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.4 points to 104.7, with seven of 10 components advancing, two... Read Story

The latest Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management has cooled off during the summer after back-to-back gains in April and May. The CMI has now seen two straight months of declines for the first time since... Read Story

Middle market companies across the Western U.S. are bullish on their growth prospects well into 2020, even as they confront near-term economic uncertainty and ongoing market disruptions. According to the 2019 Umpqua Bank Middle Market Monitor, a... Read Story

America’s small business owners’ optimism took a modest downturn in June, according to the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, slipping 1.7 points to 103.3. While optimism remains at historically high levels, the June figure reverses the gain posted... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in June, and the overall economy grew for the 122nd consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The report was issued by Timothy R.... Read Story

Deloitte reports that almost all chief financial officers (97 percent) surveyed in Deloitte’s second-quarter 2019 CFO Signals survey say they expect a U.S. downturn in the next two years, but they are split on the expected duration. Of those, four in... Read Story

When it comes to preparing for the future, U.S. businesses are acting with caution. Although 83 percent of respondents have a positive outlook on the economy, more than half (58 percent) are preparing for an economic downturn, according to a newly... Read Story

The trade war is weighing on investment prospects and has sharply increased downside risks to world economic growth forecasts, Fitch Ratings says in its new Global Economic Outlook (GEO)."Even though our base case assumes that further US tariffs on... Read Story

Small business optimism eclipsed pre-shutdown levels, increasing 1.5 points to 105.0 in May. Six components in the Small Business Optimism Index improved, three were unchanged and one dipped. Capital spending plans increased along with actual outlays... Read Story

U.S. chief executives are highly confident in the growth prospects of the domestic and global economies over the next three years, as they look to grow their businesses while facing unparalleled disruption and change, according to a study released... Read Story

From the second-quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” Survey, results reveal tentative optimism among lenders.Lenders displayed a more positive outlook and assessment of the U.S. economy in the near term. The grade point average for... Read Story

Optimism among small business owners continued its steady climb in April, with the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increasing 1.7 points to 103.5. Sales improved in April, the inventory soft spot seen in last month’s report rebounded, and profit... Read Story

Optimism among small business owners is strong, according to the latest quarterly Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index conducted April 1-5. The survey also revealed that over half of business owners reported little impact to their tax situation... Read Story

U.S. entrepreneurs continue to project a strong business outlook this spring even as confidence in the national and local economy weakened, according to the spring 2019 Bank of America Business Advantage Small Business Owner Report. Health care costs... Read Story

Credit professionals saw some improvements in the service sector but drops in the manufacturing sector in the April 2019 economic report from National Association of Credit Management. The combined score for the NACM Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) saw... Read Story

In the first quarter of 2019, middle market companies reported a rise in revenue and employment growth, but their expectations for future growth have dipped. That's according to the latest data from The National Center for the Middle Market, which... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased 0.1 points to 101.8 in March, a historically strong level and an indication that small businesses continue to power the economy after being briefly shaken by January’s government shutdown. Overall, the... Read Story

CFOs overwhelmingly expect a U.S. downturn by the end of 2020, with a slowdown seen as much more likely than a recession, according the Deloitte CFO Signals Survey. Their expectations for growth in revenue, earnings, hiring and wages declined (only... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in March, and the overall economy grew for the 119th consecutive month, according to the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business.The report was issued today... Read Story

Antares announced the results of its third annual market outlook survey of middle market private equity borrowers, sponsors and investors. The survey, Antares Compass, examines trends and sentiment related to M&A activity, hiring and the state of the... Read Story

From the first quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” Survey, results show volatility and uncertainty for the U.S. economy with deteriorating confidence in the near term.After a 37-percentage point GPA drop between Q3 2018 and Q4... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index improved modestly in February, increasing 0.5 points to 101.7. Views about future business conditions and the current period as a good time to expand improved as did plans to make capital outlays.Earnings trends... Read Story

In 2018, the vast majority of organizations reported being highly optimistic about the overall health of the economy as well as the fiscal health of their individual companies in the first Treasury Perspectives Survey. This year, optimism has waned... Read Story

As trade continues to be a focus in the current policy debate, 37 percent of small business owners are reporting negative impacts of recent trade policy changes with Mexico, Canada, or China. The newly released data comes from the NFIB Research... Read Story

NACM’s Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) made a significant gain in February when the manufacturing and service sectors saw the largest upswing following two months of decline. After ending 2018 on a low note and falling further in the new year, the... Read Story

Small business owners indicated declining optimism in the latest quarterly Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, with an overall Index score of 106. That marks the seventh consecutive quarter in which the score has topped 100, although it is 23... Read Story

A survey by QuickBridge states 83 percent of business owners expect their business sales to increase over the next year. The Q4 survey data assessed small business owners' expectations for business growth and the U.S. economy in 2019.Highlights from... Read Story

Balboa Capital announced the results of its Q1 2019 small business owner survey, which was conducted to gauge economic confidence and gain a better understanding of capital investment and hiring plans for the next 12 months. The responses of the... Read Story

Deloitte’s CFO Signals survey for the fourth quarter 2018 of chief financial officers, representing many of North America’s largest and most influential companies, reveals optimism regarding the future of North American, European and Chinese... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index remained basically unchanged in December, drifting down 0.4 points to 104.4. Unfilled jobs and the lack of qualified applicants continue to be a primary driver, with job openings setting a record high and job... Read Story

Most small and midsize U.S. businesses have a positive outlook for the domestic economy and expect their businesses to continue growing this year, according to the annual JPMorgan Chase Business Leaders Outlook report.They’re most optimistic about... Read Story

Five Federal Reserve indexes of regional manufacturing all slumped in December, the first time they have fallen in unison since May 2016 and the latest evidence that a pillar of the U.S. economy has started to wobble heading into next year, Bloomberg... Read Story

Small business optimism posted a modest decline in November with a reading of 104.8, while continuing its exceptionally strong two-year trend, according to the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index. Slightly more than half of the decline was... Read Story

From the fourth quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” Survey, results show deteriorating confidence in the strength of the U.S. economy in the near and long term with a significant increase in loan losses and bankruptcies.Lenders’... Read Story

Business executives’ outlook on the U.S. economy fell sharply in the past quarter, but they continue to hold strongly positive views of their own companies’ prospects, according to the fourth-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey, which polls chief... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in November, and the overall economy grew for the 115th consecutive month, according to the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The report was issued... Read Story

Small business lending resumed double-digit growth while credit quality remained strong in October, according to PayNet, the leading provider of small business credit data and analysis. The Thomson Reuters / PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI)... Read Story

Optimism among small business owners jumped significantly in the latest quarterly Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, with an overall Index score of 129. That is 11 points higher than last quarter’s score of 118 and the highest in the survey’s... Read Story

Small business optimism continued its two-year streak of record highs, according to the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index October reading of 107.4. Overall, small businesses continue to support the three percent-plus growth of the economy and add... Read Story

The latest Quarterly Credit Outlook from PayNet, the leading provider of small business credit data and analysis, shows Main Street closing Q3 2018 with moderated lending and a slight uptick in risk. The Thomson Reuters / PayNet Small Business... Read Story

Middle market private companies in the Golub Capital Altman Index (GCAI) experienced year-over-year revenue growth of 11.75 percent and earnings growth of 10.83 percent during the first two months of the third quarter of 2018. This compares to... Read Story

The PayNet Canadian Small Business Lending Index (CSBLI) decreased 3.2 percent from 126.2 in July 2018 to 122.1 in August 2018, marking the second consecutive monthly decline after increasing in each of the previous six months, PayNet Canada... Read Story

From the third-quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” Survey, results show a positive outlook for the U.S. Economy in both the near- and long-term as lenders confidence in the U.S. economy continues to strengthen.Lenders’ confidence... Read Story

Small business lending continued its blistering pace in August, according to the latest Strategic Insights Report from PayNet, the leading provider of small business credit data and analysis. The Thomson Reuters / PayNet Small Business Lending Index... Read Story

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index soared to 108.8 in August, a new record in the survey’s 45-year history, topping the July 1983 highwater mark of 108. The record-breaking figure is driven by small business owners executing on the plans they’ve... Read Story

For the second quarter in a row, business executives are reining in their optimism about the U.S. economy, in part because of the potential impact of trade and tariff policies and rising interest rates, according to the third-quarter AICPA Economic... Read Story

Small business plans to create new jobs and job openings hit a 45-year high in August, but owners still struggled to fill their open positions, according to NFIB’s monthly jobs report. After posting significant gains in filling open positions in July... Read Story

Two months of dwindling results casting a shadow on NACM’s Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) ended in August with a slow but steady climb in new credit applications and dollar collections in the manufacturing and service sectors. Although each sector... Read Story

The Q3 MetLife & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index indicates the majority (69.7 percent) of small business owners have a positive outlook about their company and the small business environment in the United States.Their optimism continues... Read Story

The Small Business Optimism Index marked its second-highest level in the survey’s 45-year history at 107.9, rising to within 0.1 point of the July 1983 record-high of 108. The July 2018 report also set new records in terms of owners reporting job... Read Story

PayNet reports that the PayNet Canadian Small Business Lending Index (CSBLI) increased 3 percent from 126.5 in May 2018 to 130.5 in June, marking the sixth consecutive month of growth. Compared to the same month one year ago, the index is up 8... Read Story

The latest Quarterly Credit Outlook from PayNet shows Main Street closing Q2 2018 with modest growth and strong financials. The Thomson Reuters / PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) seasonally adjusted originations decreased 8 percent from 155... Read Story

Small business optimism is at an all-time high in the latest quarterly Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, conducted July 11-18.The survey had an overall index score of 118, 12 percentage points higher than last quarter and the highest level in... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in July, and the overall economy grew for the 111th consecutive month, according to the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The report was issued by... Read Story

The tight labor market continues to be the biggest problem facing small businesses, with 37 percent of owners reporting job openings they could not fill in the current period, a new survey high. Up one point from June, 13 percent of owners reported... Read Story

Credit professionals reported fewer filings for bankruptcy and a higher score for rejections of credit applications in the July 2018 economic report from the National Association of Credit Management, but these spikes are coupled with plummeting... Read Story

Growth in the middle market remains strong, but cracks are beginning to appear in the optimism that's been driving this unprecedented growth streak. Data from the 2Q 2018 Middle Market Indicator (MMI) released by the National Center for the Middle... Read Story

The Small Business Optimism Index posted its sixth-highest reading in survey history for the month of June, at 107.2, down 0.6 from May. Since December 2016, the Index has averaged an unprecedented 105.4, well above the 45-year average of 98 and... Read Story

Small business lending climbed to an all-time high in May, according to the latest Strategic Insights Report from PayNet, the leading provider of small business credit data and analysis. The Thomson Reuters / PayNet Small Business Lending Index... Read Story

Small business owners are continuing to hire and create new jobs at historically high levels, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) monthly Jobs Report. Sixty-three percent of owners reported hiring or trying to hire, up... Read Story

Deloitte's CFO Signals survey for the second quarter of chief financial officers, representing many of North America's largest and most influential companies, reveals strong optimism among CFOs' assessments of the North American and Chinese economies... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in June, and the overall economy grew for the 110th consecutive month, according to the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business.The report was issued by... Read Story

The April irregularity in NACM’s Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) seems to be a thing of the past after the June report showed continued stability in the market. Following a large, vertical ascent in May, this month’s CMI only fell back slightly. Coming... Read Story

Middle market executives are more positive about the health of their businesses and more optimistic about their prospects for future growth than at any time in the last three years, according to the findings of a new survey conducted by The Harris... Read Story

Some 38 percent of business executives said they were worried about potential trade conflicts between the United States and major trade partners, with 9 percent describing themselves as significantly concerned, according to an American Institute of... Read Story

Wells Fargo Investment Institute released its 2018 midyear outlook report, “Late Cycle Doesn’t Mean End of Cycle.” The report makes the case that the economic recovery, which coincides with the equity bull market, has more room to run.View the... Read Story

The Small Business Optimism Index increased in May to the second highest level in the NFIB survey’s 45-year history. The index rose to 107.8, a three-point gain, with small businesses reporting high numbers in several key areas including compensation... Read Story

Small business lending edged down in April but remains near historic highs, according to the latest Strategic Insights Report from PayNet The Thomson Reuters / PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) fell 3.5 points to 141.7 in April, but remains... Read Story

Business executives are taking a more cautious view of the U.S. economy and their own company’s growth prospects after two straight quarters of exuberant optimism, according to the second-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey, which polls chief... Read Story

U.S. chief executives are highly confident in the growth prospects for their companies over the next three years and will focus on M&A and collaborative efforts such as accelerator or incubator programs for startup firms to achieve sustained growth... Read Story

The latest Quarterly Credit Outlook from PayNet shows Main Street closing the first quarter of 2018 with a healthy increase in investment and relatively moderate risk. As a result, the business cycle looks healthy from a risk-reward standpoint, and... Read Story

The Small Business Optimism Index sustained record-high levels increasing to 104.8 in April, driven by reports of improved profits, the highest in the NFIB Small Business Economic Trends Survey’s 45-year history. Additionally, the number of small... Read Story

CIT Direct Capital, the national online small business lending unit of CIT Group, announced the results of its new survey conducted by The Harris Poll revealing nearly three out of four small businesses in the U.S. plan to expand their product and... Read Story

Small businesses (less than $5 million in revenue) are starting 2018 in a strong financial position with greater success securing credit from a range of sources and generating strong cash flow. Access to major sources of credit was higher compared to... Read Story

The small business optimism index reached its 16th consecutive month in the top five percent of 45 years of survey readings, according to the NFIB Small Business Economic Trends survey. The 104.7 March reading, down from 107.6 in February, remains... Read Story

U.S. orders for manufacturing technology for the first two months of 2018 climbed 27 percent higher than the same period in 2017, signaling continued strength in the recovery initiated in June 2017, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing... Read Story

Small business lending improved again in February, according to the latest Strategic Insights Report from PayNet. The Thomson Reuters / PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) rose to 144.8 in February, its second-highest reading in history and... Read Story

The NABE March 2018 Outlook Survey report projects economic growth to pick up this year. The survey, covering the outlook for 2018 and 2019, presents the consensus of macroeconomic forecasts from a panel of 51 professional forecasters, and was... Read Story

Corporate financial professionals have increased their bullishness about the economy and for their individual companies over the past year, according to a survey released today by Strategic Treasurer and TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®. Bank... Read Story

Business executives’ optimism about the U.S. economy continues to soar but is tempered somewhat by growing inflation concerns, according to the first-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey, which polls chief executive officers, chief financial... Read Story

Small business lending expanded robustly in January, according to the latest Strategic Insights Report from PayNet. The Thomson Reuters / PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) increased to 143.6 in January, nearing the all-time high reached in... Read Story

Credit professionals report impressive gains in February’s economic report from the National Association of Credit Management, as favorable categories continue rising after the rebound in January.February raked in solid performance numbers from... Read Story

American business owners are feeling better than they have in years, thanks in part to recent regulatory reform, corporate tax cuts and a steadily improving economy. But they’re getting nervous about finding the skilled workers they need to grow as... Read Story

There is a reciprocal relationship between middle market firms and the metropolitan areas in which they operate, as uncovered by the Middle Market Power Index: Best U.S. Metropolitan Areas for Middle Market Firms from American Express and Dun &... Read Story

Mid-market enterprises (MMEs) in the U.S. are a major contributor to U.S. economic prosperity but have only just scratched the surface of growth potential, according to a newly released HSBC report. HSBC Commercial Banking, in conjunction with Oxford... Read Story

Small business investment continued to register gains at the end of 2017 as delinquencies and defaults remained at low levels according to the latest small business credit trends from PayNet, the leading provider of small business credit data and... Read Story

Small business owners entered the new year feeling the most optimistic since early 2007, according to findings from the latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index conducted January 3–9. In the latest quarterly survey of small business optimism... Read Story

The overall performance of middle market companies has steadily improved for years. As a result, nearly three-quarters (71 percent) of middle market firms surveyed for the Q4 2017 Middle Market Indicator (MMI) released  by the National Center for the... Read Story

Credit professionals are reporting a decline in the favorable factors of the December economic report from the National Association of Credit Management, but with any bad news there is always good, which was seen as many unfavorable categories... Read Story

Small businesses (Since PCA began in 2012, expectations for overall business performance improvement in the upcoming year are at a record high. Eighty-four percent of both small and mid-sized businesses ($5M - $100M in revenue) owners expect their... Read Story

Small business job creation plans reached an all-time high in November, shattering the previous record for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) monthly Jobs Report.“We have never seen this kind of intensity around job creation in... Read Story

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) issued the following statement on behalf of President and CEO Juanita Duggan in response to the Senate’s passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:“We are pleased to see the Senate pass the Tax Cuts... Read Story

Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) President and CEO Camden R. Fine released the following statement on the Senate's passage of the pro-growth Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1).“With the Senate’s passage of its tax reform bill, ICBA and... Read Story

Small business optimism continues to rise as a majority of business owners are reporting increased sales and improved business conditions since earlier this year. Capital One's latest Small Business Growth Index, which polled 500 small business... Read Story

Small business monthly credit trends reflect a wait and see attitude. The September 2017 Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) decreased 4% to 127.3 from 133.2 in August 2017.  Compared to September 2016, the SBLI decreased... Read Story

The core of the U.S. small business sector is solid, with many entrepreneurs expressing confidence that they will generate higher year-end revenues compared to 2016, and that the 2018 economy will improve. According to the fall 2017 Bank of America... Read Story

Following the largest increase in a decade, small business optimism held steady in the fourth quarter, according to the latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, conducted October 2–6. In the quarterly survey, which measures the optimism of... Read Story

Ghosts and goblins bedeviled the numbers for October as what looked like an upward trend stalled out after only two months. The Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from NACM registered a decrease for the month, coming in at 55.5, one point below the score... Read Story

Middle market companies continued to hire during the last year and the strong employment growth is expected to continue over the next 12 months, according to the Q3 2017 Middle Market Indicator (MMI) released by the National Center for the Middle... Read Story

Optimism among business owners and leaders remains high, but has shifted significantly to a more moderate level according to the PNC Economic Outlook, a biannual telephone survey of small and medium-sized business owners, which began in 2003.The... Read Story

What started as sprouts of optimism in August may be blossoming into a full-grown trend. The Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from NACM registered an increase in September, coming in at 56.5, the best number it has achieved so far in 2017.“The hope is... Read Story

In a first sign that middle-market businesses are losing confidence in President Donald Trump, a key indicator of middle-market confidence experienced its first decline since the 2016 election.   The RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI)... Read Story

PayNet reports that the PayNet Canadian Small Business Lending Index (CSBLI) increased 4% to 126.2 in July 2017 from 121.2 in June 2017.“Investment to expand is showing broadly across industry segments and provinces at a time when the U.S. is stuck... Read Story

The July 2017 Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) decreased 11% to 123.8 from 139.1 in June 2017. Compared to July 2016, the Index increased 1%.Industrial sectors showed sluggish activity with 11 of 18 industry sectors showing... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in August, and the overall economy grew for the 99th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®. The report was issued by Timothy R... Read Story

Middle market firms are outpacing their smaller and larger counterparts when it comes to growth in number of firms, employment, and revenue, according to the Middle Market Power Index from American Express and Dun & Bradstreet. The seventh report in... Read Story

Small business optimism continues to climb in the third quarter as business owners said they are the most optimistic in more than a decade, according to findings from the Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, conducted July 10–14. In the quarterly... Read Story

The seesaw economy continues unabated according to the National Association of Credit Management. Despite the fourth-best reading in the last 12 months, the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from NACM dropped to 54.6 in July from 56.1 the previous... Read Story

Middle market private companies in the Golub Capital Altman Index experienced year-over-year revenue growth of 8.94% and earnings (defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA) growth of 2.29% during the first... Read Story

The May 2017 Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) increased to 137.0, up 9% from 125.4 in April 2017. Compared to May 2016, the SBLI is up 3% and it is at the highest level since June 2016.“Expansion by small businesses in May... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in June for the 90th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

According to the June report of the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM), the combined score reached a level as good as it has been in over a year, with a reading of 56.1. Favorable factors surged to... Read Story

Most executives of middle-market companies not only expect their business to experience disruption in the near future, but welcome it, according to Disruption in the Middle Market, a report released by Capital One Commercial Bank. However, this... Read Story

The RSM US Middle Market Business Index (MMBI), presented by RSM US LLP (“RSM”) in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, reached a record high for the second consecutive quarter, indicating middle market business leaders remain extremely... Read Story

The U.S. economic expansion continues unfettered, according to a new report by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®.  "Despite a significant amount of volatility in quarterly growth rates in the first half of the... Read Story

PayNet reports the PayNet Canadian Small Business Lending Index (CSBLI) increased for the third straight month to 120.1 in April 2017 from 118.7 in March 2017. Compared to March 2016 the CSBLI is up 1%. “This release was a shocker ” states William... Read Story

The April 2017 Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) dropped to 123.1, down 8% percent from 133.7 in March 2017. Compared to April 2016, the SBLI is down 5% which is the third consecutive year-over-year decline. “This report was... Read Story

The May economic report from the National Association of Credit Management indicates a down month, keeping in line with the overall economy and a roller coaster pattern to the year. According to the May report of the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from... Read Story

Business executives are taking a more conservative view of what had been bullish optimism about both the U.S. economy and prospects for their own companies earlier this year, according to the second-quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey, which polls... Read Story

The vast majority of surveyed Americans believe manufacturing plays a vital role in safeguarding U.S. economic prosperity and maintaining their quality of life, according to the 2017 Manufacturing Perceptions Survey from Deloitte and The... Read Story

The inaugural MetLife & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index (Index), found that nearly two-thirds of small business owners are expecting revenue growth and looking to hire despite harboring concerns about the health of the national economy.... Read Story

From the second quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” Survey, results shows lender confidence on the U.S. economy in the long term continuing to deteriorate.The Q2 2017 survey continues the recent trend of lenders increasing... Read Story

Economic growth is expected to continue in the U.S. throughout the remainder of 2017, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in their Spring 2017 Semiannual Economic Forecast. Expectations for the remainder of 2017 continue to be positive... Read Story

Optimism among business owners about the U.S. economy and the outlook for their own businesses has reached levels never-before seen in the 15-year history of the PNC Economic Outlook, a biannual telephone survey of small- and medium-sized business... Read Story

The March 2017 release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) continues to show small businesses cool towards real expansion as the Index increased just 4% to 134.0 from 128.9 in February 2017. The SBLI is down 1% from... Read Story

Business owners are more optimistic than any time in the eight year history of the U.S. Bank Small Business Annual Survey. Times are good and they're getting better, although there are still challenges ahead, according to the survey. Owners are... Read Story

Scores for the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) appear to have shaken off worrisome numbers from last month and settled on a generally upbeat tone, according to the National Association of Credit Management’s (NACM) April economic report.The combined... Read Story

Confidence in the U.S. economy among middle market companies has reached a new high in early 2017, according to the Q1 2017 Middle Market Indicator (MMI) released by the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM). With nine in 10 middle market... Read Story

PayNet reports the PayNet Canadian Small Business Lending Index (CSBLI) fell 1% to 116.1 in February 2017 from 117.2 in January 2017. Compared to February 2016, the Index is down 7%.“While a down month for small businesses, at least we can see the... Read Story

The 12 Federal Reserve Banks issued the 2016 Small Business Credit Survey: Report on Employer Firms, which examines the results of an annual survey of business conditions and the credit environment faced by small business owners who have full- or... Read Story

Business optimism in the United States has surged to a record high of 80 percent, according to the latest Grant Thornton mid-market business survey, The International Business Report. This jump in optimism among mid-market decision-makers bodes well... Read Story

The results of a recent online survey conducted by Balboa Capital reveal small business owners are concerned about their ability to drive profits and secure growth capital, but are otherwise feeling optimistic about the future of their companies and... Read Story

The March economic report from the National Association of Credit Management shows scores still dominated by good numbers, but waning expectations maybe foreshadowing future results.The combined score dipped only slightly, from 55.4 to 54.3, despite... Read Story

PayNet conducted a recent study to project bank lending hot spots in 2017. According to the report, loan risk premiums should move up overall to reflect the higher projected default rates of 2.1% in 2017.  PayNet’s data shows 2017 lending strategy... Read Story

The new political landscape has injected unprecedented confidence into the middle market, with 70% of executives saying they expect the economy to improve over the next six months -- compared to just 37% who said the same at the end of 2016. That's... Read Story

Prospects for the American economy are looking up, according to a new report by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®. "Even without a dose of fiscal stimulus, economic growth appears set to accelerate to 2.2% from... Read Story

Small business owners are the most optimistic they have been since the start of the Great Recession, according to the latest findings from the Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, conducted Feb. 6-10.In the quarterly small business survey, which... Read Story

A new survey from M&T Bank suggests that many middle market firms are looking forward to potential changes in economic policy under President Trump’s new administration and plan to increase capital spending this quarter as a result.According to the... Read Story

The Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) Foundation released its quarterly forecast, U.S. Industrial Outlook: Glimmers of Light. The forecast shows positive signs of global economic stability. Low interest rates and the... Read Story

The January 2017 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) rose a solid 4% in January over the same time last year. The 8% fall in the Index versus December reflects the seasonality of small business investment... Read Story

According to the January report of the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM), the combined score changed only slightly, to 54 from 54.1 the previous month. The combined score for the favorable factors... Read Story

U.S. middle market companies reported an average revenue growth of 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016, capping off a strong year of overall growth, according to the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM). Combined with steady job gains... Read Story

Deloitte’s fourth quarter (4Q 2016) CFO Signals survey, which opened the day after the election on Nov. 9, 2016, reveals that all eyes are on the next U.S. administration, with 73 percent of surveyed chief financial officers expecting less... Read Story

According to the December report of the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM), the combined score jumped from 52.9 to 54.1, the third-highest reading seen this year. The news was similarly positive in... Read Story

The November 2016 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) increased 8% to 129.9 in November 2016 from 119.8 in October 2016. Compared to November 2015, the index is up 2%, the first year-over-year increase since... Read Story

Chief financial officers (CFOs) attending Deloitte’s 20th annual CFO Vision™ anticipate slow global economic growth and somewhat less—or no significant change to—international trade for the US, according to polling data obtained from a sampling of... Read Story

Business executives reported a strong surge in optimism about prospects for the U.S. economy over the coming year, according to the American Institute of CPAs’ (AICPA) fourth quarter Economic Outlook Survey, which polls chief executive officers... Read Story

The American economy is back on track, but, with new leadership in Washington, the band of uncertainty around the forecasts has widened, according to a new report by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®. "A lot has... Read Story

Economic growth in the United States will continue in 2017, say the nation's purchasing and supply management executives in their December 2016 Semiannual Economic Forecast. Expectations are for a continuation of the economic recovery that began in... Read Story

Small business owners are the most optimistic they have been since January 2008, according to the latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, conducted Nov. 11-17. In the quarterly small business survey, which measures the optimism of small... Read Story

According to the November report of the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM), the overall index score held close, albeit slightly lower (53.5 to 52.9), than it has been over the past few months.... Read Story

Results of the inaugural Global Business Monitor by Bibby Financial Services (BFS) found that U.S. business decision makers (BDMs) are markedly more optimistic about the current state of the domestic economy than that of the global economy. 49... Read Story

Mid-market executives are more confident about future growth and are actively pursuing multi-faceted growth strategies in the coming year. These are some of the observations from Jeff Kilrea, Group Head and Managing Director, CIT Sponsor Finance, a... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in October for the 81st consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

The September 2016 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, decreased to 128.9 in September from 132.8 in August. Compared to the September 2015, the SBLI is down 7%... Read Story

According to the October report of the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM), the numbers, though slightly lower, are an improvement over the last several months. “There was not the big jump seen in... Read Story

Middle-market executives remain generally optimistic about the strength of their businesses, with at least 80% foreseeing expansion and diversification over the next twelve months. Though a slight majority (55%) believes their local economy is strong... Read Story

PayNet, the premier provider of credit assessments on private companies reports the PayNet Canadian Small Business Lending Index (CSBLI) increased 4% to 123.2 in August 2016 from 118.8 in July 2016. That is the largest increase in the Index since... Read Story

Owners of small and mid-sized businesses are upbeat about the U.S. economy amid steady expectations for their sales and hiring during the next six months, according to the latest PNC Economic Outlook Survey findings. The fall findings of PNC's... Read Story

From the third quarter Phoenix Management “Lending Climate in America” Survey, results shows a shift on lenders outlook on the U.S. economy in both the near and long term.The 3Q 2016 survey results continue the trend towards more pessimism on longer... Read Story

Middle-market private companies in the Golub Capital Altman Index increased revenues by 4.62% and earnings (defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or "EBITDA") declined by 0.66% during the first two months of the... Read Story

The August 2016 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, increased to 133.7 in August from 123.1 in July.This is the largest monthly increase in the SBLI since... Read Story

The September economic report from the National Association of Credit Management shows an improved combined overall score above 50.The September report of the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM)... Read Story

The American economy is doing better than the headlines suggest and should continue to add jobs at a steady pace, according to a new report by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®."Economic growth averaged just 1.0... Read Story

PayNet, the premier provider of risk management solutions and market insight to Canadian commercial lenders, reports the PayNet Canadian Small Business Lending Index (CSBLI) increased slightly from 118.4 in June 2016 to 118.7 in July 2016.  Compared... Read Story

The most important international markets and opportunities for U.S. middle market companies lie within the Americas, according to a new report from the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM). This finding, detailed in the NCMM's "Winning in the... Read Story

U.S. economic growth has long been dependent on the health of America’s 28 million small businesses. According to a new survey, these businesses are gearing up for growth by investing financially in their businesses. The Small Business Growth Survey... Read Story

The growth of U.S. middle market firms (companies between $10 million and $1 billion in revenues) is outpacing the national average, with an 87% increase in number of firms, a 103% surge in employment, and a 100% rise in revenue since 2011, according... Read Story

Buoyed by higher profit growth expectations, business executives are predicting an increase in corporate expansion for the coming year, according to the third quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey, which polls chief executive officers, chief... Read Story

The July 2016 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, decreased to 121.5 in July from 139.2 in June. Compared to the same month one year ago, the SBLI is down 16%... Read Story

Balboa Capital released the results of its Q2 2016 small business owner survey, and they indicate that while fewer SBOs reported revenue increases, many of them are feeling optimistic about their companies. The online survey, which was sent to a... Read Story

PayNet reports that the PayNet Canadian Small Business Lending Index (CSBLI) decreased 3% to 113.9 in June 2016 from 117.7 in May 2016. Compared to June 2015, the Index is down 16%. “Canadian businesses are clearly feeling pressure from the economic... Read Story

The June 2016 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, increased to 138.9 in June from 131.1 in May.  Although this illustrates the largest monthly increase in the... Read Story

Small businesses and middle market companies in the U.S. are in growth mode, according to the American Express Business Growth Pulse. The survey found that ninety-two percent of middle market firms ($10M -$1B in revenues) and eighty percent of small... Read Story

Investment in equipment and software is expected to grow a sluggish 0.9 percent in 2016, according to the Q3 update to the 2016 Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook released by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation. The Foundation... Read Story

The June economic report from NACM shows numbers still in the expansion zone, but at their weakest level for the calendar year.Amid returned deterioration in several industries, the June report of the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National... Read Story

The May 2016 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, decreased in May 2016 for the third consecutive month to 128.6 from 129.5 in April 2016, a 1% decline. Compared... Read Story

The American economy is showing its resilience, bouncing back with gusto after a slow start to the year, according to a report by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®. "Consumers burst out of the gates in the second... Read Story

PayNet reports the PayNet Canadian Small Business Lending Index (CSBLI) decreased 3% from 121.7 in March 2016 to 117.5 in April 2016. Compared to April 2015, the Index is down 12% and is at the lowest point in the Index since February 2013. “This... Read Story

Despite comprising only 1% of the total number of commercially active firms in the country, middle market companies have led national job growth over the past five years, employing nearly 53 million workers – more than double the number employed by... Read Story

The April 2016 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, for the second consecutive month, decreased 5% to 129.0 in April 2016 from 135.1 in March 2016.  Compared to... Read Story

The reversal of the commodity super cycle continued to discourage capital spending and depress results for diversified industrials and capital goods manufacturers in first-quarter 2016, according to Fitch Ratings. End-markets such as mining, oil and... Read Story

The March 2016 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, decreased from 138.9 in February 2016 to 135.3 in March 2016. Compared to the same month one year ago, the... Read Story

Less than one-half (net 46 percent) of U.S. businesses are optimistic about the future, according to the first quarter 2016 results of the Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR). Figures throughout the world are more pessimistic, with... Read Story

Executives from middle market businesses and small businesses have positive expectations for the performance of their companies over the next 12 months, at 70 percent and 69 percent respectively, according to results from the 2016 JPMorgan Chase & Co... Read Story

The February 2016 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, increased to 138.0 in February from 117.7 in January, a 17% increase.  Compared to the same month one year... Read Story

Nervous investors sent financial markets on a rollercoaster ride to start this year, but the story for the American economy has not changed over the past three months according to a new report by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank, America's Most... Read Story

According to the annual SunTrust Banks Business Pulse Survey, there is a significant shift in the growth strategies of middle-market and small businesses as they move forward with plans to fuel expansion in the next five years. Thirty-six percent of... Read Story

The January 2016 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, registered 118.2, 13% lower than the revised December value of 135. Compared to one year ago, the index... Read Story

Small business owners expressed a level of optimism not seen in a year in the latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, conducted January 11-15, as the Index’s overall score rose to 67, a 13-point gain from November’s survey. The quarterly... Read Story

Balboa Capital released the results of its winter small business survey, and they indicate that a sizeable number of small business owners had a successful 2015 and think the United States economy met expectations. The survey, which was sent to a... Read Story

The burgeoning service economy is significantly outpacing more traditional industry sectors in its rate of business growth among middle market companies, according to the Middle Market Power Index: Exploring Generational Changes in Middle Market... Read Story

Showing a modest increase, January’s economic report from the National Association of Credit Management has encouraging news for credit professionals.Despite market volatility, economic indicators such as the January report of the Credit Managers’... Read Story

Following a quarter of strong revenue growth, U.S. middle market companies reported stable growth to close 2015, even as rate of increase in employment flattened and confidence in the economy fell. These findings headline the National Center for the... Read Story

After months of staying on a volatile roller coaster ride, December’s economic report from the National Association of Credit Management eased slightly upward, finishing the year at 52.8 from 52.6. Showing only minor improvement, the December report... Read Story

Higher interest rates will not upend growth, but reflect the underlying strength of the U.S. economy according to a report released today by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank."With domestic spending and job creation running well above trend, the... Read Story

The Federal Reserve issued the following press release on December 16, 2015:Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in October suggests that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace. Household spending and... Read Story

PayNet, the premier provider of risk management solutions and market insight to the Canadian Commercial Finance Industry reports that the PayNet Canadian Small Business Lending Index (CSBLI) shows originations increasing to 140.8 in October 2015 from... Read Story

After reaching a seven-year high in January, small business owners are feeling less optimistic today than they were a year ago, according to the latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, conducted November 9-13. In the quarterly small business... Read Story

Business executives have sharply reined in expectations for profit and revenue in the coming year, with anticipated growth for those two key performance indicators now at their lowest ebb since the end of 2012, according to the fourth quarter AICPA... Read Story

The October 2015 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, decreased 5% to 131.7 compared to September while the September value had been restated from 140.4 to 137.9... Read Story

Both the manufacturing and service sectors experienced a decline this month, according to the November report of the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM). The combined CMI index dropped more than a... Read Story

A new survey from TD Bank reveals chief financial officers (CFOs) plan to significantly increase their company's capital spending in 2016, as the economic outlook remains positive despite forecasts of an interest rate increase and uncertainty in... Read Story

Optimism for the nation’s economic outlook among U.S. business leaders rose 20 percentage points in third quarter 2015 to a net balance of 74 percent, marking only the second time since 2004 it had eclipsed net 70 percent, according to data from the... Read Story

The September 2015 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, increased 4% to 140.4 compared to the prior month.  The August value had been restated from 136.1 to... Read Story

October’s economic report from the National Association of Credit Management took a positive turn from last month’s reading of 52.9, increasing to 53.9.    Emerging from the downward trend of the last two months, the October report of the Credit... Read Story

Despite the explosion of big data throughout Corporate America, middle market executives are judging the state of the economy based on personal experience and observation more than economic indicators. Approximately three in five executives say the... Read Story

U.S. middle market companies continue to report strong revenue growth and confidence in the domestic economy, even as their level of comfort in the global economy and attitude toward investing in their business diminishes amid slowdowns in... Read Story

The August 2015 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, decreased 6% to 136.1 compared to the prior month.  July’s value had been restated from 145.2 to 144.1. On a... Read Story

Slowing activity in China and other emerging market economies will be a headwind to growth over the next year, but the U.S. economy is in good shape to weather the storm, according to a report released today by TD Economics (www.td.com/economics), an... Read Story

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in July suggests that economic activity is expanding at a moderate pace. Household spending and business fixed investment have been increasing moderately, and the housing sector has... Read Story

PayNet is expanding its economic indicators to measure the Canadian small business economy.PayNet maintains the richest and largest collection of small business loans and leases to provide insight proven to accelerate credit decisioning and reduce... Read Story

The July 2015 data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, is 145.2.  June’s value had been restated from 143.3 to 146.4. On a year-over-year basis, the SBLI is up 13%... Read Story

The positive beacon of light in July was extinguished this month as the August report of the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) showed a nearly two-point drop in the combined score—slipping from... Read Story

A number of factors have challenged economic growth in 2015, among them a second straight severe winter, the West Coast port strike, a strong dollar and collapse of oil prices, but assuming the first two were anomalies, there should be marginal... Read Story

The June data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, increased 9% from 131.0 in May 2015 to 143.3 in June 2015, reaching a new high.  Compared to the same month one... Read Story

The July report of the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) reflected a positive recovery to 56—higher than any monthly reading since last October. “Think about that for a moment—[that’s] as high as... Read Story

For the second quarter in a row, middle market executives say that middle market corporate growth continues to moderate, suggesting that the business cycle remains steady following a period of robust growth in 2014. Some 66 percent of middle-market... Read Story

The majority of private companies have voiced optimism about the U.S. economy for nine  consecutive quarters, with 70 percent currently expressing a positive outlook – up from 59 percent in 2Q 2014. This sustained level of confidence is resulting in... Read Story

A mid-year survey conducted by small business loan provider and equipment financing company Balboa Capital reveals that business owners believe the United States economy is on the right track and will perform well during the remaining months of 2015.... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in June for the 30th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 73rd consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.The... Read Story

The May data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, decreased 8% from 140 in April 2015 to 128.5 in May 2015, as small businesses paused investing activities after... Read Story

June’s economic report from the National Association of Credit Management finds yet another reversal of fortune, with the combined index sliding to 53.4 from 54.1.  The June report of the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of... Read Story

The economy stumbled early this year, but found its footing in the spring and appears to finally be hitting its stride according to a report released today by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank."The winter chill is definitely gone and the economy... Read Story

Several factors have emerged to temper the manufacturing production forecast for 2015 but a rebound is anticipated for 2016, according to the MAPI Foundation's U.S. Industrial Outlook, a quarterly report that analyzes 27 major industries. The MAPI... Read Story

The April data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, increased 8% from 130.5 in March 2015 to 141.5 in April 2015, reaching an all-time maximum value. Compared to the... Read Story

Small and mid-size businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and access to capital is the fuel that lets them thrive. A unique survey, co-authored by the Milken Institute's Center for Financial Markets (CFM) and the National Center for the... Read Story

Small business optimism is at an all-time high since the Great Recession, according to the 2015 Capital One Small Business Confidence Score, an analysis of small business sentiment data collected by the Spark Business Barometer since 2009. The Spark... Read Story

The March data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, increased 2% from February to 129.6 in March 2015. This also reflects a 12% increase versus March 2014.GDP... Read Story

The April report of the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) improved by a fraction and rose to 53.9, comfortably above contraction territory. “It would appear that a collapsed energy sector, winter... Read Story

Following a year of consistently accelerating revenue and employment growth for middle market firms, growth appears to be slowing and stabilizing in the first quarter of 2015, according to the National Center for the Middle Market’s Q1 2015 Middle... Read Story

The March report of the Credit Managers' Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) fell further this month indicating that some serious financial stress is manifesting in the data."We now know that the readings of last... Read Story

The February release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, increased 7% over February 2014.  The SBLI decreased 3% from 122.4 in January 2015 to 119.2 in February 2015. “While... Read Story

The January 2015 release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, increased 3% to 120.9 compared to 117.4 a year ago but decreased 9% from 133.4 the prior month. The restated... Read Story

For the last month or so, there has been a lot to worry about and this has stripped a good bit of confidence from those that assess the economy on a regular basis. Not all the news is bad, however. There have been some palpable improvements in the... Read Story

Small business owners handed out significantly higher scores when asked about the health of the economy and their potential for economic growth than they did six months ago, according to the Bank of America/CFI Group Small Business Forecast released... Read Story

The December release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, increased 6% to 129.8 compared to 122.6 in December 2013. This reflects a 10% increase from 117.6 in November 2014... Read Story

The January Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) appears to have has joined the ranks of the cautiously optimistic. The CMI had been sounding warnings like some kind of credit prophet as it trended... Read Story

The November release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, increased 1% compared to November 2013. The SBLI decreased 11% from 129.7 in October 2014 to 116.0 in November 2014... Read Story

America's economy is gaining steam and lower oil and gasoline prices are adding fuel to the fire according to a report released today by TD Economics (www.td.com/economics), an affiliate of TD Bank. "The fall in energy prices could hardly have come... Read Story

Economic growth in the United States will continue in 2015, say the nation’s purchasing and supply management executives in their December 2014 Semiannual Economic Forecast. Expectations are for a continuation of the economic recovery that began in... Read Story

The December 2014 National Association for Business Economics (NABE) Outlook presents the consensus of macroeconomic forecasts from a panel of 48 professional forecasters. The survey, covering the outlook for 2014 and 2015, was conducted November... Read Story

The October release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, increased 12% compared to October 2013. The SBLI Increased 4% from 127.1 in September 2014 to 131.8 in October 2014... Read Story

Expectations for the rest of the year change with a drop in the the National Association of Credit Management's economic report for November. October's improvement now seen as an anomaly, which leaves growing concerns for continued growth.The data... Read Story

Strong growth in jobs plus replacement demand for equipment from businesses will provide a stable base for overall economic growth, according to a new report.The MAPI Foundation, the research affiliate of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity... Read Story

The September release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, increased 14% compared to September 2013. The SBLI Increased 6% from 118.5 in August 2014 to 125.4 in September... Read Story

TD Economics announced the release of a special report detailing how equipment financing and investment is expected to accelerate over the next year and a half, due to improving cyclical and structural factors - "The Lost Years: U.S. Business... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September for the 16th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 64th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On... Read Story

The August release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which is a leading economic indicator of GDP, declined 1% compared to August 2013. The SBLI decreased 10% from 127.5 in July 2014 to 114.5 in August 2014 signaling... Read Story

The American economy is showing renewed vigor and is poised for a pickup in growth, according to a report released today by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank.."Job growth is gaining speed and confidence is rising," says TD Chief Economist, Craig... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August decreased $54.5 billion or 18.2 percent to $245.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This decrease, down following two consecutive monthly increases, followed a 22.5 percent July... Read Story

The outlook for the U.S. economy is for steady growth but there is little expectation for a significant upward trajectory, according to a new report.The MAPI Foundation, the research affiliate of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in July for the 14th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 62nd consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest  The report was issued by Bradley J. Holcomb... Read Story

The June release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which anticipates leading economic indicators and GDP, increased 15% over June 2013. Although the June Index fell 4% to 120.6 versus May, it marks the fourth... Read Story

All twelve Federal Reserve Districts indicated that economic activity continued to expand since the previous report. The pace of economic growth was characterized as moderate in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, and San Francisco, while the... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in June for the 13th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 61st consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®. The... Read Story

Economic growth stumbled in the first three months of this year, but bounced back in the spring and will maintain momentum over the remainder of 2014, according to a report released today by TD Economics."Despite the setback to the broader economy in... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in May for the 52nd consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®. The report was issued by Anthony Nieves, CPSM, C... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in April increased $1.9 billion or 0.8 percent to $239.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up three consecutive months, followed a 3.6 percent March increase. Excluding transportation... Read Story

Commercial borrowing by small and medium-sized businesses in Canada moderated in Q1 2014 but was still above the Q1 2013. The Canadian Business Lending Index (CBLI) which measures the volume of new commercial loans and leases to small businesses... Read Story

Economic growth is expected to continue in the United States throughout the remainder of 2014, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in their Spring 2014 Semiannual Economic Forecast. Expectations for the remainder of 2014 continue to be... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in April for the 11th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 59th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®. The... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that construction spending during March 2014 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $942.5 billion, 0.2 percent (±1.3%)* above the revised February estimate of $940.8... Read Story

The Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) improved slightly in April, rising from 55.5 to 56. The index has yet to rebound to where it was in January, but importantly is still firmly in the mid-50s and... Read Story

The latest data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which has proven to be a leading indicator of GDP between 2-5 months, shows small business investment activity continues to grow at a faster pace. The SBLI... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in March for the 50th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

The National Association of Credit Management’s monthly economic report showed the effects of a continued harsh winter. An improvement in amount of credit extended tempered by a decline in the number of companies applying for credit indicates a... Read Story

The latest data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which has proven to be a leading indicator of GDP between 2-5 months, shows small business investment activity growing at a slower pace. The SBLI registered... Read Story

According to a report by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank, snowstorms and freezing temperatures slowed the economy at the start of this year, but spring has just arrived and with it will come brighter prospects for growth. "Economic momentum in... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in February for the ninth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 57th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On... Read Story

Small Business Economy Continues With Investment and High Credit Quality The latest data release of the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which has proven to be a leading indicator of the GDP between 2-5 months, shows small... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in January for the 48th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in December decreased $10.3 billion or 4.3 percent to $229.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This decrease, down two of the last three months, followed a 2.6 percent November increase.... Read Story

The January 2014 National Association for Business Economics Industry Survey report presents the responses of 64 NABE members to a survey conducted between December 19, 2013, and January 6, 2014, on business conditions in their firms or industries... Read Story

Small-business optimism ended the year slightly up from November at 93.9, but below the previous 3 mid-year readings of over 94 and 6 points below the pre-recession average, according to the National Federation of Independent Business’ (NFIB’s)... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in December for the 48th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in December for the seventh consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 55th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during November 2013 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $934.4 billion, 1.0 percent (±1.6%) above the revised October estimate of $925.1... Read Story

The latest results of small business trends prepared by PayNet registers another increase for small business investment. At the same time, small businesses exhibited a slight  increase in delinquent payment of loans and leases. The Thomson... Read Story

The combined December Credit Managers’ Index (CMI), published by the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) fell dramatically from 57.1 to 55.6, erasing most of the gains made in the last few months and taking the CMI back to levels not... Read Story

A rising tide of positive factors bodes well for a rebound in the manufacturing sector, according to the quarterly Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation U.S. Industrial Outlook, a report that analyzes 27 major... Read Story

Bank of the West Chief Economist Sees U.S. Consumer Finally Driving RecoveryFor the first time in more than six years consumer spending will lead U.S. economic growth as we enter 2014, Bank of the West Chief Economist Scott Anderson, PhD, said during... Read Story

According to a Federal Reserve press release, "Beginning in January, the Committee will add to its holdings of agency mortgage-backed securities at a pace of $35 billion per month rather than $40 billion per month, and will add to its holdings of... Read Story

After a year that started with a fiscal cliff and ended with the first bipartisan budget deal in years, diminishing fiscal drag should give way to faster economic growth over the next two years, according to a new report by TD Economics."Despite the... Read Story

Economic growth in the United States will continue in 2014, say the nation's purchasing and supply management executives in their December 2013 Semiannual Economic Forecast. Expectations are for a continuation of the economic recovery that began in... Read Story

The National Association for Business Economics (NABE) released its December 2013 Outlook, a consensus of macroeconomic forecasts from a panel of 51 professional forecasters. The survey, covering the outlook for 2013 and 2014, was conducted November... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in November for the 47th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®. The report was issued today by Anthony... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in November for the sixth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 54th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On... Read Story

The latest results of small business investment trends released by PayNet signal a very positive sign for the economy with solid expansion at low risk for the next few months. The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) increased... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during October 2013 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $908.4 billion, 0.8 percent (±1.8%) above the September estimate of $901.2 billion.... Read Story

The Credit Managers’ Index (CMI), published by the National Association of Credit Management (NACM), increased to 57.1 in November, registering its highest reading since the beginning of the recession in 2008.Building on the optimism from October’s... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in October decreased $4.6 billion or 2.0 percent to $230.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This decrease, down following two consecutive monthly increases, followed a 4.1 percent September increase... Read Story

Small business owners are seeking loans at a feverish pace in hopes to seize growth opportunities as the 2013 holiday season kicks off, according to the October Small Business Lending Demand Index released by Direct Capital, a leading national small... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in October for the fifth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 53rd consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The... Read Story

The National Association of Credit Management’s CMI managed to improve in October from 56.6 to 56.7. Though the service sector faltered, driven by the hit in retail delivered by the government shutdown, the manufacturing sector seemed to shrug off... Read Story

Mid-sized firms are on track to add more than 1.25 million jobs in 2013, which would account for 7 out of every 10 new jobs created this year. In addition, the nearly 200,000 companies representing the U.S. middle market grew revenue at 5.5% over the... Read Story

The September release of small business investment trends prepared by PayNet illustrates the small business economy is experiencing unspectacular but steady expansion. The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) decreased 6% to 109... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in September increased $8.2 billion or 3.7% to $233.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up five of the last six months, followed a 0.2% August increase. Excluding transportation, new... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during August 2013 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $915.1 billion, 0.6 percent (±2.1%) above the revised July estimate of $909.4 billion.... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September for the fourth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 52nd consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On... Read Story

Industry data from Sageworks show that residential builders and remodelers make up one of the fastest-growing groups of privately held companies in the U.S. Privately held building construction companies had average sales growth of 17.5 percent for... Read Story

September's growth in the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) was driven primarily by increases in the index's unfavorable factors, all of which registered improvements and some by substantial... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August increased $0.3 billion or 0.1 percent to $224.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up four of the last five months, followed an 8.1 percent July decrease. Excluding... Read Story

The recovery in the economy will continue to show improvement over the next year, despite the recent rise in interest rates, according to a new report by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank."The U.S. economy has... Read Story

“The National Association for Business Economics (NABE) panel forecasts a gradual acceleration in economic expansion, from a 2.3% rate of growth in inflation-adjusted gross domestic product in the third quarter of 2013 to 3.0% in the spring through... Read Story

Sageworks released their latest Private Company Report on September 23rd, a quarterly update on the health and state of privately held U.S. companies.     Preliminary estimates show that privately held companies are growing sales at an annual rate of... Read Story

PayNet, a firm that provides risk management solutions and market insight to the Canadian Commercial Finance Industry reports strong investment by privately-held Canadian businesses. The Canadian Business Lending Index (CBLI) which measures the... Read Story

Small-business optimism remained flat in August, dropping 0.1 points from July for a final reading of 94.0. While the total reading showed essentially no change over the month prior, a look at the individual indicators reveals incongruent details.... Read Story

After a slow first half of 2013, expectations are for the U.S. economy to gradually return to moderate growth in the second half and through 2014, according to a new forecast. The Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI)... Read Story

PayNet's latest analysis of small business investment bodes well for economic growth. The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) increased 11% in July to 117.7, the highest level since August 2007. The Index, which measures the... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during July 2013 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $900.8 billion, 0.6 percent (±2.0%) above the revised June estimate of $895.7 billion.... Read Story

Orders for durable goods (items meant to last at least three years) declined sharply in July as demand for commercial aircraft declined and overall businesses spent less on computers other equipment.According to the Commerce Department report, orders... Read Story

Small business optimism is the highest it has been since third quarter 2008, according to the latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index conducted July 22-26. The Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index improved 9 points since second quarter and... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in July for the 43rd consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in July for the second consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 50th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The... Read Story

PayNet’s latest analysis of small business investment points to modest growth in the coming months. The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index  decreased to 104.8 in June from a revised 113.7 in May. The Index, which measures the amount... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during June 2013 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $883.9 billion, 0.6 percent (±2.1%) below the revised May estimate of $889.4 billion. The... Read Story

The National Association of Credit Management’s (NACM’s) Credit Managers' Index (CMI) fell from its June high of 56.1 to 55.5 in July, led by a sharp decline in collections.The "dollar collections" category moved from 59.3 to 57.5, taking the... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in June increased $9.9 billion or 4.2 percent to $244.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up four of the last five months, followed a 5.2 percent May increase and was at the... Read Story

Reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts indicate that overall economic activity continued to increase at a modest to moderate pace since the previous survey. Manufacturing expanded in most Districts since the previous report, with many... Read Story

Reuters reported that U.S industrial production rose slightly more than expected in June as manufacturing output picked up speed. According to the report, output at the nation's factories, mines and utilities rose 0.3 percent in June after an... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during May 2013 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $874.9 billion, 0.5 percent (±1.6%) above the revised April estimate of $870.3 billion.... Read Story

After stepping backward in the first quarter, small business investment jumped forward in the last two months. The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index increased to 115.1 in May, 2013 from a revised 108.1 in April, 2013 The index... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in June following one month of contraction, and the overall economy grew for the 49th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The... Read Story

The June Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) confirms that the significant growth reported in May was genuine. The June CMI reached 56.1—not as dramatic a jump as last month, but still trending in... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in May increased $8.0 billion or 3.6 percent to $231.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up three of the last four months, followed a 3.6 percent April increase. Excluding... Read Story

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in May suggests that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace. Labor market conditions have shown further improvement in recent months, on balance, but the unemployment... Read Story

Buoyed by rising home prices, American households will drive U.S. economic growth forward according to a report released today by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank."The outlook for the economy is characterized by the increasing resiliency and... Read Story

Reuters reported that commercial borrowing by small and medium-sized businesses in Canada climbed in the first quarter, driven by robust domestic and global demand, according to the latest PayNet survey.PayNet, which tracks commercial financing for... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in April for the 40th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves, C... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during March 2013 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $856.7 billion, 1.7 percent (±1.5%) below the revised February estimate of $871.2... Read Story

The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index decreased to 98.5 in March from a revised 105.4 in February. The index, which measures the amount of new commercial loans and leases granted to small businesses, and therefore their investment... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in April for the fifth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 47th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The... Read Story

The National Association of Credit Management’s CMI for April 2013 reports more companies feeling the stress of the slow economy, not meeting payment terms. The Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM)... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in March decreased $13.1 billion or 5.7 percent to $216.3 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This decrease, down two of the last three months, followed a 4.3 percent February increase. Excluding... Read Story

According to the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts suggest overall economic activity expanded at a moderate pace during the reporting period from late February to early April. Activity in the Cleveland... Read Story

TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank, released a special report today indicating that recovery in the housing market augers for continued improvement in U.S. commercial real estate over the next two years.Despite challenges – including gradually... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in March for the 39th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The report was issued  by Anthony Nieves, C.P.M.... Read Story

Reuters reported small U.S. businesses cut back on borrowing in February for a second straight month, indicating slower growth ahead.According to the Reuters report, the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index, which measures the overall... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in March for the fourth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 46th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during February 2013 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $885.1 billion, 1.2 percent (±1.5%) above the revised January estimate of $874.8... Read Story

The March Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) fell slightly from 54.9 to 54.2, with both favorable and unfavorable factor indexes dipping by roughly equal amounts. Some individual showed significant... Read Story

Bloomberg reported the U.S. economy grew at a faster pace than previously estimated in the fourth quarter, reflecting a bigger gain in business spending.According to the report, GDP rose at a 0.4% annual rate, up from a 0.1% prior estimate and... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in February increased $12.4 billion or 5.7 percent to $232.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up five of the last six months, followed a 3.8 percent January decrease. Excluding... Read Story

Reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts indicated that economic activity generally expanded at a modest to moderate pace since the previous Beige Book. Five Districts reported that economic growth was moderate in January and early February... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in February for the 38th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®. The report was issued today by Anthony... Read Story

The Thomson Reuters PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI) fell to 113 in January from a revised 115 in December. The index has been basically flat for the past year after growing 20% in 2010 and 16% in 2011.This latest report confirms the... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in February for the third consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 45th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in January decreased $11.8 billion or 5.2 percent to $217.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This decrease, down following four consecutive monthly increases, followed a 3.7 percent December... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in January for the 37th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during December 2012 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $885.0 billion, 0.9 percent (±1.6%) above the revised November estimate of $876.9... Read Story

Reuters reported that borrowing by small U.S. businesses rose marginally in December, reporting a small gain for the entire year.  According to the Reuters report, the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index, which measures the overall... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in January for the second consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 44th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.... Read Story

The shift in the January Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) was very minor, falling from 54.9 to 54.6. On closer examination there was a lot going on, reflecting that the economy is essentially in a transition mode again. The last time this kind of variety... Read Story

Reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts indicated that economic activity has expanded since the previous Beige Book report, with all twelve Districts characterizing the pace of growth as either modest or moderate. Since the previous Beige... Read Story

New orders for manufactured goods in November, up four of the last five months, increased $0.2 billion to $477.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 0.8 percent October increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in December for the 36th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during November 2012 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $866.0 billion, 0.3 percent (±1.6%) below the revised October estimate of $868.2... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in December, following one month of contraction, and the overall economy grew for the 43rd consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business... Read Story

The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index (SBLI), which has proven to be a leading indicator of the GDP between 2-5 months, takes the pulse of the U.S. Small Business economy. The SBLI for November stands at 108.3, which is essentially... Read Story

Reuters reported commercial borrowing by Canadian companies hit the highest level in the third quarter since early 2009, a PayNet survey showed on Wednesday, suggesting businesses played an outsized role in supporting the economy ad growth... Read Story

Economic growth in the United States will continue in 2013, say the nation's purchasing and supply management executives in their December 2012 Semiannual Economic Forecast. Expectations are for a continuation of the economic recovery that began in... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in November for the 35th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The NMI registered 54.7 percent in November, 0... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that construction spending during October 2012 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $872.1 billion, 1.4 percent above the revised September estimate of $860.4... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in November following two months of modest expansion, while the overall economy grew for the 42nd consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On... Read Story

The National Association of Credit Management (NACM), a leading resource for credit and financial management information, education, products and services designed to improve the management of business credit and accounts receivable announced the... Read Story

Economic activity expanded at a measured pace in recent weeks, according to reports from contacts in the twelve Federal Reserve Districts. Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas, and San Francisco grew at a modest pace, while St.... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in October increased slightly to $216.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up five of the last six months, followed a 9.2 percent September increase. Excluding transportation, new... Read Story

The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry rose 0.2 percent in September from August, rising after a one-month decline, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) Freight... Read Story

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index rose 0.3 in October to 93.1; the slight uptick in the reading did not seem to indicate a dramatic shift in owner sentiment over the course of the month. The survey... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in October for the 34th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

The National Association of Credit Management’s (NACM) economic report for October 2012 fell almost a full point largely on poor performances from sales and collections numbers. More payments are beyond terms as well, indicating companies are... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that construction spending during September 2012 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $851.6 billion, 0.6 percent (±2.1%) above the revised August estimate of... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in October for the second consecutive month following three months of slight contraction, and the overall economy grew for the 41st consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the... Read Story

Reuters reported that lending to small U.S. businesses plunged in September to the lowest level in 14 months. According to the report, the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index, which measures the overall volume of financing to small... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in September increased $19.6 billion or 9.9% to $218.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up four of the last five months, followed a 13.1% August decrease. Excluding transportation... Read Story

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in September suggests that economic activity has continued to expand at a moderate pace in recent months.  Growth in employment has been slow, and the unemployment rate remains elevated... Read Story

According to the October 10, 2012 Beige Book Report, twelve Federal Reserve Districts indicated that economic activity generally expanded modestly since the last report. Conditions in the manufacturing sector were mixed but, on balance, somewhat... Read Story

September was another month of low expectations and pessimism for the small-business community, with the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index losing 0.1 points and falling to 92.8. The recession-level reading was pulled down by a deterioration in labor... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in September for the 33rd consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

Reuters reported that lending to small U.S. businesses rose in August for a second straight month providing a sign the economy may have been regaining its footing even before the U.S. central bank's latest round of stimulus. According to the report... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September following three consecutive months of slight contraction, and the overall economy grew for the 40th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing... Read Story

The National Association of Credit Management said the Credit Managers’ Index showed a nice recovery in August when the combined index number moved from 53.4 to 55.8, showing better overall performance than earlier in the year. The 55.8 was higher... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August decreased $30.1 billion or 13.2 percent to $198.5 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  This decrease, down following three consecutive monthly increases, was the largest decrease since... Read Story

U.S. industrial activity hit a speed bump in the second quarter of 2012 and stall speed growth may delay the transition from modest to moderate growth until the second half of 2014, according to the quarterly Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity... Read Story

The U.S. economy is on the right track to faster growth, but obstacles will slow progress over the next year, according to a report released today by TD Economics , an affiliate of TD Bank. "The U.S. economy is healing from the scars of the Great... Read Story

The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry rose 0.1 percent in July from June, rising after a one-month decline, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) Freight... Read Story

An article on Bloomberg notes Ben S. Bernanke pledged for the first time that the Federal Reserve will buy bonds until the economy gets closer to his goals, signaling the battle against unemployment eclipses any concerns about inflation for now.The... Read Story

PayNet, a firm that provides risk management tools and market insight to the Canadian Commercial Finance Industry, reports Canadian private companies have finally returned to levels last achieved in 2007 before the Great Recession.The Canadian... Read Story

July U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $449.69 million according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTO program, was down 2.3% from June and down 10.5% when... Read Story

In spite of a disappointing jobs report, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index gained 1.7 points, rising to 92.9, in the month of August. The Index showed some positive signs; employment indicators for the fourth quarter improved substantially, as... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in August for the 32nd consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during July 2012 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $834.4 billion, 0.9 percent (±1.8%) below the revised June estimate of $842.2 billion.... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in August for the third time since July 2009; however, the overall economy grew for the 39th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On... Read Story

The latest measures of the small business economy signal business should prepare now for forthcoming economic weakness. Early stages of financial stress are emerging across all businesses. The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index... Read Story

The Credit Managers Index (CMI) has consistently predicted the performance of the greater economy by roughly a month. In 2008, when the majority of the economic indicators pointed toward more growth, the CMI was starting to track downward and... Read Story

Navistar Financial Corporation (NFC), an affiliate of Navistar, Inc., has signed agreements to renew and increase its largest dealer inventory funding facility to $750 million, effective immediately. The facility is funded through three of NFC's... Read Story

Reuters reported the economy fared slightly better than initially reported in the second quarter, however the pace of growth remained too slow to remove the option for further monetary easing from the Federal Reserve. As reported, gross domestic... Read Story

Reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts suggest economic activity continued to expand gradually in July and early August across most regions and sectors. Six Districts indicated the local economy continued to expand at a modest pace and... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in July increased $9.4 billion or 4.2% to $230.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today.  This increase, up three consecutive months, followed a 1.6% June increase.  Excluding transportation, new... Read Story

Small-business owners prominently rank “Uncertainty Over Economic Conditions” and “Uncertainty Over Government Actions” as their second and fourth most serious problems in the quadrennial National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) report... Read Story

Bloomberg reported Federal Reserve policy makers signaled readiness to boost record stimulus unless they are convinced the economy is poised to rebound. Recent signs of strength may not be enough to satisfy them.Many members of the policy-setting... Read Story

The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index was unchanged in July after increasing 1.1% in June.  (June’s gain was slightly smaller than the 1.2% increase ATA reported on July 25.)  In July, the... Read Story

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released its latest Small Business Borrowers Poll, offering data and insight into the credit experiences of more than 500 regional small businesses. Results suggest that discouraged firms and those that could... Read Story

In the second quarter of 2012, half of leading private companies were optimistic about the US economy, few were pessimistic (12 percent), and a fair number remained uncertain (38 percent), according to PwC US’s Private Company Trendsetter Barometer.... Read Story

Dipping for a second consecutive month, after ending several months of slow growth, the Small Business Optimism Index gave up 0.2 points, falling to 91.2. The decline, while less anticipated given the Supreme Court decision on the health-care law and... Read Story

The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry fell 0.1 percent in June from May, following no change in the index from April to May, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’... Read Story

The Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index declined six points to positive 17 in a survey conducted July 9 – July 13, 2012. This decline virtually erases gains experienced earlier this year and brings to light the lingering concerns business owners... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in July for the 31st consecutive month, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that construction spending during June 2012 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $842.1 billion, 0.4% (±1.8%) above the revised May estimate of $838.3 billion. The... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in July for the second time since July 2009; however, the overall economy grew for the 38th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On... Read Story

The pace of borrowing by small businesses took a sharp turn downwards last month; showing slow economic growth will continue for at least the next quarter.  The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index stands at 98.5 in June, down from 103... Read Story

The National Association of Credit Management's CMI fell from 54.5 to 53.4 in July. For the first time in over a year, sales fell below 60, and by a significant degree. The reading of 58.5 is worse than at any point in 2011. The new credit... Read Story

Despite more than one-third of polled small business owners reporting that they are somewhat or significantly understaffed, most don't plan to hire in the upcoming months, according to a new survey by TD Bank.TD Bank's survey – which polled more than... Read Story

The majority of U.S. industrial manufacturers who were surveyed remain optimistic regarding prospects for the U.S. economy, but sentiment about the global economic outlook continues to weaken, according to the Q2 2012 Manufacturing Barometer released... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in June increased $3.4 billion or 1.6 percent to $221.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today.  This increase, up two consecutive months, followed a 1.6 percent May increase.  Excluding... Read Story

The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 1.2% in June after falling 1.0% in May. (May’s loss was larger than the 0.7% drop ATA reported on June 19.) June’s increase was the largest... Read Story

PayNet, a leader in small business lending analytics and risk management solutions announces PayNet AbsolutePD® Stress Test Simulator, a new, powerful risk management solution that can greatly improve banks’ ability to forecast the risk associated... Read Story

Moody's Investors Service has revised to negative from stable the outlooks on the Aaa sovereign ratings of Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. In addition, Moody's has also affirmed Finland's Aaa rating and stable outlook.All four sovereigns are... Read Story

Reuters reported that the slowdown in the economy persisted early in the third quarter as factory activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region contracted in July for a third straight month and new claims for jobless aid surged last week.The report quotes... Read Story

Reports from most of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts indicated that overall economic activity continued to expand at a modest to moderate pace in June and early July. The Atlanta, St. Louis, and San Francisco Districts reported modest growth... Read Story

According to a study from Wells Fargo Securities’ Economics Group, the U.S. economy will continue growing in 2012, but growth will slow more than originally expected. The report expects the U.S. economy growth rate to remain at 1.7% for the balance... Read Story

In a disappointing reversal of several months of slow but positive growth, June’s Index of Small Business Optimism dove three points, falling to 91.4. The decline is significant, and relinquished the gains achieved earlier this year. Only one of the... Read Story

Following the report that only 80,000 new jobs were created in June, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Chief Economist, Dr. Martin Regalia, issued the following statement:“Today’s employment report should serve as a clear reminder that the pace of... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in June for the 30th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in June for the first time since July 2009; however, the overall economy grew for the 37th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that construction spending during May 2012 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $830.0 billion, 0.9% (±1.5%) above the revised April estimate of $822.5 billion. The... Read Story

The pace of investment by small businesses appears to be increasing. A study released Monday by PayNet, a data analytics firm making small business lending more profitable, shows that lending increased 12% month over month, which is the largest... Read Story

Optimism on the global economy remains fleeting at best for CFOs from North America’s largest companies. According to the Deloitte CFO Signals survey, CFO optimism last quarter took a solidly positive turn after two dismal quarters to end 2011.... Read Story

The Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) for June sits at 54.5, just slightly behind May’s reading of 54.6. The sub-index of favorable factors maintained a reading of 60.2, with the sub-index of unfavorable factors moving downward slightly to 50.6. The... Read Story

The crisis in Europe is weighing on U.S. economic confidence, but healing in the U.S. housing market is a glimpse that better economic times lay ahead, according to a report released today by TD Economics (www.td.com/economics), an affiliate of TD... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in May increased $2.3 billion or 1.1 percent to $217.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, followed a 0.2 percent April decrease.... Read Story

According to a press release issued by the Federal Reserve, the Committee expects economic growth to remain moderate over coming quarters and then to pick up very gradually. Consequently, the Committee anticipates that the unemployment rate will... Read Story

The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 0.7% in May after falling 1.1% in April. (April’s loss was the same as ATA reported on May 22.) The latest drop lowered the SA index to 117.8... Read Story

For the first time in 44 months, taxes emerged as the top problem for small businesses in the latest monthly Small Business Economic Trends report published by the National Federation of Independent Business. When asked about the single most... Read Story

Dropping just a tenth-of-a-point in the month of May, the Nation Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Index of Small Business Optimism came in at 94.4. A reading of 94.4 is historically low and consistent with the sub-par performance of GDP and... Read Story

The second quarter AICPA Economic Outlook Survey reveals that business executives are more guarded about the twelve-month outlook for the U.S. economy than they were last quarter. The AICPA survey polls CEOs, CFOs, controllers, and CPAs in executive... Read Story

Reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts suggest overall economic activity expanded at a moderate pace during the reporting period from early April to late May. Activity in the New York, Cleveland, Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas, and... Read Story

Reuters reported that according to PayNet, Canadian commercial lending activity rose to its highest level in nearly three years in the first quarter, signaling the country's small-business economy is emerging from the shadow of therecession.   ... Read Story

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in May for the 29th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves... Read Story

New orders for manufactured goods in April, down three of the last four months, decreased $2.9 billion or 0.6% to $466.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 2.1% March decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased... Read Story

A new study by PayNet, Inc. a firm that provides risk management tools and market insight to the commercial credit industry shows that credit is weak, as is the desire by millions of small businesses to expand. PayNet studied credit applications and... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in May for the 34th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 36th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The... Read Story

Reuters reported that lending to small business in the United States eased in April for the fourth month in a row as companies were hesitant to bulk up their operations, boding poorly for stronger economic growth. According to the report, the Thomson... Read Story

According to the latest Credit Managers’ Index, overall CMI slipped again in May and is now sitting at levels last seen in January of this year and about where the CMI was a year ago. “The gains made in the last year have largely been erased and now... Read Story

According to a report released by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank, corporate America is underinvesting relative to its availability of funds.The report, titled, "Milking America's Cash Cow: The Case for Stronger Investment Growth," asserts... Read Story

More small businesses say government regulations are the top problem facing their business. In the May issue of the National Federation of Independent Business’ (NFIB’s) Small Business Economic Trends report, 20% of small-business owners said... Read Story

New orders for manufactured durable goods in April increased $0.3 billion or 0.2% to $215.5 billion, according to the Advance Report on Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments and Orders issued by the U.S. Census Bureau.  This increase, up two of the... Read Story

A new survey of Northeast small business owners by TD Bank reveals that although confidence in the U.S. economy remains low, the majority of those polled expect to meet or improve revenues, and have stable or increased employee headcounts in the... Read Story

The May 2012 National Association for Business Economics (NABE) Outlook presents the consensus of macroeconomic forecasts from a panel of 54 professional forecasters. The survey, covering the outlook for 2012 and 2013, was conducted April 19- May 2... Read Story

Revving the U.S. job engine requires more fuel from small businesses. This is according to a report released today by TD Economics, an affiliate of TD Bank.Two and a half years following the end of Great Recession, hiring rates are still very low... Read Story

Bank of America released its inaugural Small Business Owner Report, a semi-annual study exploring the concerns, aspirations and perspectives of small business owners across the country. The survey uncovers a sense of optimism about their own business... Read Story

Confidence about the US economy's 12-month outlook rose sharply this past quarter among executives surveyed for PwC US’s Private Company Trendsetter Barometer. Sixty percent of Trendsetter executives voiced optimism (up 21 points from the prior... Read Story

Economic growth is expected to continue in the United States throughout the remainder of 2012, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in their spring 2012 Semiannual Economic Forecast.Expectations for the remainder of 2012 continue to be... Read Story

Canadian chief financial officers of middle-market companies are positive about the current state of their own industry as well as the domestic economy, according to the first Canadian Mid-Market CFO Survey by GE Capital, Canada. Moreover, 40% of... Read Story

According to the National Federation of Independent Business, the Index of Small Business Optimism gained 2 points in April, settling at 94.5 after taking a dip in March. The reading is the highest since December 2007, however, April’s gain only... Read Story

U.S. financial executives are much more optimistic about the national economy than they were last fall, with nearly two-thirds expecting it to grow in 2012, but they remain cautious about the global economy, according to the latest Bank of America... Read Story

The Institute for Supply Management reported economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in April for the 28th consecutive month, according to the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The Non-Manufacturing Index (NMI) registered... Read Story

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in April for the 33rd consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 35th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.The PMI... Read Story

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during March 2012 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $808.1 billion, 0.1 percent (±1.4%) above the revised February estimate of $807.3... Read Story

U.S. industrial manufacturers expect continued global economic growth in 2012, with optimism regarding the prospects for the U.S. economy continuing to rise, according to the Q1 2012 Manufacturing Barometer released by PwC US. Optimism regarding the... Read Story

Small Business Borrowing Is at a Critical Stage for the Economy…Stalled and Could Continue to Grow or Inflect Into Another RecessionThe pace of lending to small businesses in the United States continues to be at a standstill, supporting the view that... Read Story

Small business owners are finding it less difficult to obtain credit, according to the latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index survey (conducted April 2-6, 2012). Since the last survey in January, the number of small business owners who found... Read Story

After five straight months of gains, the Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) slipped to 55.1 from the March reading of 56.2, and just slightly above the January reading. The decline is not drastic and, excluding February and March, the CMI is higher than... Read Story

The National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM) today announced that the middle market, a leading indicator of America's future competitiveness, grew at a rate of 8.4% in the past year, but expects future revenue growth will slow according to... Read Story