04/04/2024

Despite Inflation, Small Business Owners' Confidence Grows

Nearly one-third of entrepreneurs now give the U.S. economy a clean bill of health,

Despite concerns about inflation's staying power, entrepreneurs are starting to feel more upbeat about the economy.

Confidence among small-business owners improved in the first quarter of this year, according to the Small Business Index compiled by MetLife and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The survey, which polled approximately 750 small-business owners between Jan. 26 and Feb. 12, rose to 62.3, up from 61.3 in the fourth quarter of 2023.

That improvement was driven in part by a surge in economic sentiment, with nearly one-third of business owners reporting the U.S. economy is in good health, an increase of seven percentage points from the fourth quarter of last year and 12 percentage points from this time last year. Entrepreneurs felt even more optimistic about the state of their local economy, with 38 percent saying it is in good health, up from 30 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Inc.