Abrupt Turn in Small Business Optimism Ends 39-Month Historic Run
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 8.1 points in March to 96.4, the largest monthly decline in the survey’s history. Nine of the 10 Index components declined, which is evidence that economic disruptions are escalating on Main Street as small businesses struggle to keep their doors open. The small business sector is anticipating and bracing for continued economic disruptions going forward.
“I know that Kansas small business owners are scared, apprehensive, and looking for help. Here’s the best thing you can do today: if you are planning to file for funding, do so now,” said NFIB State Director in Kansas, Dan Murray. “Applications for the Paycheck Protection Program recently passed by Congress are available now. NFIB is urging all members who are afraid their small business will run out of money quickly to file as soon as possible.”
In Lindsborg, Corey Peterson is hanging on by a thread. His Scandinavian gift shop, Hemslojd, has been closed for more than 2 weeks and online gift sales won’t be enough to keep him afloat long term. He’s missing vital spring break family visitors and Scandinavian snow birds migrating through Kansas on their way back to the upper Midwest from their summer homes.
If things continue the way they are through the summer, it won’t only be a blow to Peterson, but to the entire town of Lindsborg, which relies on tourists. Three of their restaurants have shut down – one permanently. Peterson is doing his best to give his staff hours, even if he doesn’t have as much work for them to do. They are coming in one at a time, in shifts from 7 am to 10 pm, each working a few hours a day.
“This has indeed been an opportunity for NFIB to shine and they have not disappointed. I appreciate the info they have been disseminating and for being active in DC and Topeka explaining what this actually means to small businesses out here,” says Peterson. “I’m pretty sure Congress has no idea what small business deals with, especially the potential unintended consequences of the laws they pass. I’m so glad NFIB has been there to offer guidance and insight. I’m very thankful.”
An artist works at Hemlojd. The gift shop hosts local artists nearly everyday throughout the year so customers can watch them at their craft.
The financial markets saw substantial change in March, with the stock market indices losing 22% of their value and jobless claims rising to a record 10 million in the last two weeks of the month. The NFIB survey collected the majority of responses in the first half of the month, so the sharp decline in employment is not reflected in the March survey data.
The main takeaways from the March survey include:
- The NFIB Uncertainty Index rose 12 points in March to 92, the highest level since March 2017.
- Reports of better business conditions in the next six months declined 17 points to a net 5%, which is the largest monthly decline since November 2012.
- Real sales expectations in the next six months declined 31 points to a net negative 12%, the largest monthly decline in the survey’s history.
- Thirteen percent of firms thought it was a good time to expand, a decline of 13 points from last month.
- Job openings fell three points to 35%.
As reported in NFIB’s monthly jobs report, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the small business labor market reported strong hiring, elevated levels of open positions, and historically high employee compensation. However, hiring plans experienced a significant drop from February yet finding qualified workers remains the top issue for 24% of small employers who reported this as their No. 1 problem.
Down two points from February, 60% of owners reported capital outlays. Of those making expenditures, 43% reported spending on new equipment, 26% acquired vehicles, 16% improved or expanded facilities, 6% acquired new buildings or land for expansion, and 12% spend money for new fixtures and furniture. Twenty-one percent of owners are planning capital outlays in the next few months, a sign that small business owners are scaling back spending as economic conditions started to disrupt the nation.
Sales held strong in March, with a seasonally adjusted net 8% of all owners reporting higher nominal sales in the past three months. As actual sales volumes remained strong, expectations of the future of sales growth deteriorated significantly. It is clear owners felt the pending economic shift as state officials began to shut down non-essential businesses and issue stay-at-home orders in response to coronavirus.
A net negative three percent of owners are planning to expand inventory holdings. Small business owners are bracing themselves for a significant reduction in consumer spending and future orders.
The frequency of reports of positive profit trends fell two points to a net negative 6% reporting quarter-on-quarter profits. Among the owners reporting weaker profits, 32% blamed weaker sales, 26% blamed usual seasonal change, 9% cited price changes, 7% cited labor costs, and 7% cited material costs. For those reporting higher profits, 53% credited sales volumes and 22% credited usual seasonal change.
NFIB released surveys in March on how COVID-19 is impacting small businesses. The latest survey showed 92% of small employers are negatively impacted by the outbreak and about half of small employers said they can survive for no more than two months under the current business conditions.
Click here to view the NFIB Small Business Economic Trends Survey.
About the Small Business Economic Trends
The NFIB Research Center has collected Small Business Economic Trends data with quarterly surveys since the 4th quarter of 1973 and monthly surveys since 1986. Survey respondents are drawn from a random sample of NFIB’s membership. The report is released on the second Tuesday of each month. This survey was conducted in February 2020. For more information about NFIB, please visit NFIB.com.
