Small Business Trends & Research

The NFIB Research Center promotes greater understanding of small business and the conditions that impact it. The Center produces and disseminates various surveys and studies on small business, focusing on areas related to public policy’s effects.

Small Business Trends & Research

Small Business Economic Trends Survey (SBET)

SBET Report

The NFIB Research Center releases a Small Business Economic Trends (SBET) data on the second of Tuesday each month.

Jobs Report

A monthly SBET jobs report emphasizing the overall health and operation of the economy, including employment, labor costs, budgets, and more.

Quarterly Industry Report

A quarterly Small Business Economic Trends industry report highlighting the construction, manufacturing, retail, and services industries.

SBET Report

The NFIB Research Center releases a Small Business Economic Trends (SBET) data on the second of Tuesday each month.

Jobs Report

A monthly SBET jobs report emphasizing the overall health and operation of the economy, including employment, labor costs, budgets, and more.

Quarterly Industry Report

A quarterly Small Business Economic Trends industry report highlighting the construction, manufacturing, retail, and services industries.

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Additional NFIB Research Publications

Problems and Priorities

This is the eleventh edition of this publication. The volumes are among the…

This is the eleventh edition of this publication. The volumes are among the NFIB Research Center’s most popular publications and therefore have become a staple.

Small Business Tax Surveys

The 2024 NFIB Tax Survey assessed small business owners’ biggest tax chal…

The 2024 NFIB Tax Survey assessed small business owners’ biggest tax challenges, implications of potential changes to the tax code, and how tax policy impacts business operations.

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EY Tax Report

The EY (formerly Ernst & Young) macroeconomic analysis, released in conjunc…

The EY (formerly Ernst & Young) macroeconomic analysis, released in conjunction with NFIB, measured the impact on small business of permanently extending the 20% Small Business Deduction.

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2024 Small Businesses’ Contribution to the Community

This report provides insight into how and why small businesses contribute t…

This report provides insight into how and why small businesses contribute to their communities.

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NFIB Banking Survey Part I: May 2023

Small business banking is an essential component to business operations. Th…

Small business banking is an essential component to business operations. The ability to quickly access funds, make deposits, borrow, manage expenses, and seek advice are all part of the small business banking relationship. More recently, the financial response to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a new level of small business ties with the banking system.

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NFIB Banking Survey Part II: August 2023

This report is a follow-up to the banking survey NFIB released in April 202…

This report is a follow-up to the banking survey NFIB released in April 2023, one month after the banking failures and one year into the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes. Small business owners were again asked about their financing activities and their experience in accessing credit. The health of the financial system is essential to sm all business operations, and this report offers insight into how well it is serving their small business clients.

Financing Sales Survey: December 2023

This report is the third report in the 2023 small business credit survey se…

This report is the third report in the 2023 small business credit survey series first published in April 2023 which was one month after the banking failures and one year into the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes.

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NFIB Small Business and Inflation

Small employers were asked a series of questions on how the current state o…

Small employers were asked a series of questions on how the current state of inflation is impacting their business. This survey was conducted from June 31 – July 7.

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The U.S. Debt and Debt Limit Explained

The current U.S. debt is about $31.5 trillion. The current U.S. debt limit,…

The current U.S. debt is about $31.5 trillion. The current U.S. debt limit, or the total amount the U.S. government is legally allowed to borrow to pay its bills, is 31.4 trillion. So, what is the U.S. debt, how long until the U.S. hits the debt cliff, how is that determined, and what exactly does that mean? Here are some answers.

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Small Business Health Insurance Survey

This survey offers data that is not otherwise widely available to better u…

This survey offers data that is not otherwise widely available to better understand this relationship and the challenges small business owners face when dealing with health insurance for themselves and their employees.

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Academic Sponsorships

See awards given by NFIB Research Foundation

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Bill Dunkelberg Forbes Articles

NFIB’s Chief Economist offers expert advice on small business practices o…

NFIB’s Chief Economist offers expert advice on small business practices on Forbes.

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NFIB Research’s Monthly Newsletter

April 2025

The Small Business Optimism Index fell by 3.3 points in March to 97.4, falling below the 51-year average of 98. This was the largest monthly decline in the Optimism Index since June 2022. Of the 10 Optimism Index components, two increased, seven decreased, and one was unchanged. Better business conditions and sales expectations contributed the most to the decline in the Index. The Uncertainty Index fell 8 points from February’s second highest reading to 96.

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