Small Business

The National Federation of Independent Businesss Small Business Optimism Index fell 0.9 points to 88.5 in March, marking the lowest level of small-business optimism in the U.S. since December 2012. Small business owners complain of inflation, high wages, and high input costs-none of which indicate a slowing economy. But Ed Yardeni, the veteran Wall Street economist and investment strategist, says the pessimism is a cause for concern but not yet a harbinger of a recession.

NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased by 0.9 of a point in March to 88.5, the lowest level since December 2012. This is the 27th consecutive month below the 50-year average of 98.5. Inflation has once again been reported as the top business problem on Main Street.

Small Business Administration head Isabel Casillas Guzman calls it a "historic small business boom" The Biden administration touted a monthly average of 440,000 new business applications. In March, Vice President Kamala Harris said the administration had set a goal of increasing federal contracts for minority-owned businesses by 50%.

The boards, platters and grazing stations are typically filled with meats, cheeses, olives, fruits and breads. Alex Laviolette owns "Cheesescapes," and walked through how to make one.

Up to 3.7 million people are slated to travel to the path of the eclipse, joining the 31 million already living along the stretch. Hotel chains Super 8, Airbnbs, restaurants, eyeglasses manufacturers, and even skydiving companies say eclipse business is booming. American Paper Optics, the country's largest producer of protective eclipse glasses, has sold out.

Kenneth C. Baker opened his own chiropractic practice in 2022 in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County. Baker Chiropractic Sport & Spine Clinic specializes in treating sports injuries, automotive accidents, vertigo, pregnancy aches and pains, and migraines.

Anthony Marques and his wife Jackie are in the habit of saving comic book culture landmarks and keeping them afloat no matter the challenge. Anthony and Jackie own and operate The Kubert School and Deweys Comic City, a Madison, New Jersey comic staple founded in 1991 by Dan Veltre. Anthony is a freelance artist and editor who has drawn everything from Batman to Back To The Future.

A bill before the Legislature would limit Maine businesses ability to market products and services. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce supports commonsense reforms enacted in other states. Small businesses drive our local economies, create jobs and are the catalysts behind Maine innovation and entrepreneurship.

Small businesses in the U.S. are feeling less optimistic as they continue to deal with a slowdown in sales and inflationary pressures, the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) found. The decline in part means that business owners are still dealing with lingering woes tied to the covid-19 pandemic, which placed significant stress on small businesses.

Increased crime cutting into small-business earnings, survey of owners finds. 7 in 10 grade President Joe Bidens performance negatively in terms of helping small businesses, poll finds. One-third of small business owners say increased crime is cutting into their earnings.