CARSON CITY, Nev., April 16, 2026—From Tray Abney, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in Nevada, on this week’s release of the monthly NFIB Small Business Optimism Index showing it fell 3.0 points in March to 95.8, leaving it below its 52-year average of 98.0. The last time the Optimism Index fell below its historical average was April 2025. The Uncertainty Index rose 4 points from February to 92, well above its historical average of 68.

“I don’t know if next month’s report will be radically different. What I do know is how very important it is to have the right state and federal policies in place that allow businesses to weather any storm, which is why Governor Lombardo is right to start steering Nevada away from our dependence on the dwindling number of California refineries and the bad policies that state has for the energy industry in general.”

More about a positive federal policy in this news release.

From NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg

“The 20% Small Business Deduction and other supportive small business tax provisions in the Working Families Tax Cut Act have had many positives for small business owners. However, the dramatic spike in oil prices has spooked consumers and owners alike.  Small business owners are having to absorb those higher input costs and pass them along to their customers.”

Highlights from the Latest NFIB Small Business Optimism Index

• The frequency of reports of positive profit trends fell 11 points from February to a net negative 25% (seasonally adjusted), contributing the most to the Optimism Index’s decline.
• The net percent of owners expecting better business conditions fell 7 points from February to a net 11% (seasonally adjusted), the third consecutive monthly decline and the lowest level since October 2024. This was the second biggest contributor to the Index’s decline.
• In March, both planned and actual labor compensation decreased from the previous month. A seasonally adjusted net 33% reported raising compensation, down 1 point from February. A seasonally adjusted net 18% plan to raise compensation in the next three months, down 4 points from February and the lowest reading since July 2025.
• Sixteen percent (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners plan to make capital outlays in the next six months, down 2 points from February and the lowest level since November 2009.

Keep up with the latest Nevada small business news at www.nfib.com or by following NFIB on X @NFIB_NV.

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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 Nevada
Abney Government Relations
775-443-5561
Reno, NV
NFIB.com
X: @NFIB_NV