FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Thor Stacey, Alaska State Director, thor@thorstaceyassociates.com
Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, anthony.malandra@nfib.org

JUNEAU, Alaska, March 10, 2026—From Thor Stacey, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in Alaska, on today’s finding from the monthly NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, which fell 0.5 points in February to 98.8 but remained slightly above the 52-year average of 98. The Uncertainty Index decreased three points from January to 88.

“Now that we’re into tax season, I want to thank again the Alaska small business owners who did their part in making the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction a permanent feature of our national tax code. It wasn’t an easy slog, but many voices create a loud noise, and keeping the 20% deduction from expiring at the end of last year was a huge victory for Main Street. Together with not having a state income tax, Alaskans are better able to withstand all the other challenges thrown at our economy.”

In conjunction with the February report, NFIB also released a new episode of the NFIB Research Center’s “Small Business by the Numbers” podcast. Listen to the latest episode here.

From NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg

“Although optimism declined slightly, small businesses report feeling more certain in February as they look toward the coming months. High sales and increased profits made February a more positive month for many owners, but competition from large businesses is putting stress on Main Street firms as they navigate the current economic climate.”

Highlights from the Latest NFIB Small Business Optimism Index

• Seasonally adjusted, a net 34% reported raising compensation, up 2 points from January and the highest level since March 2025.
• The frequency of reports of positive profit trends rose 7 points from January to a net negative 14% (seasonally adjusted). The last time earnings trends were this high was in December 2021.
• The net percent of owners raising average selling prices fell 2 points from January to a net 24% (seasonally adjusted). This marked the third consecutive month that actual price increases slowed, though the changes remain well above the historical average.
• When asked to evaluate the overall health of their business, 12% rated it as excellent (down 2 points), 55% as good (up 1 point), 26% as fair (down 1 point), and 5% as poor (up 1 point).

Keep up with the latest Alaska small business news at www.nfib.com. Follow us on X at @NFIB_AK.

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For over 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven association. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.

NFIB Alaska
Box 211231
907-723-1494
Juneau, AK 99821
www.nfib.com
X: @NFIB.AK