Skip to content

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 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.
Read More
Jobs Report
A monthly SBET jobs report emphasizing the overall health and operation of the economy, including employment, labor costs, budgets, and more.
Read More
Quarterly Industry Report
A quarterly Small Business Economic Trends industry report highlighting the construction, manufacturing, retail, and services industries.
Read More

Additional NFIB Research Publications

Problems and Priorities
This is the eleventh edition of this publication. The volumes are among the…
Read More
Small Business Tax Surveys
The 2024 NFIB Tax Survey assessed small business owners’ biggest tax chal…
Download Now
EY Tax Report
The EY (formerly Ernst & Young) macroeconomic analysis, released in conjunc…
View Report
Small Business and Technology
The adoption of new or updated technology by small businesses is crucial to…
View PDF
2024 Small Businesses’ Contribution to the Community
This report provides insight into how and why small businesses contribute t…
View PDF
NFIB Banking Survey Part I: May 2023
Small business banking is an essential component to business operations. Th…
View PDF
NFIB Banking Survey Part II: August 2023
This report is a follow-up to the banking survey NFIB released in April 202…
Read More
Financing Sales Survey: December 2023
This report is the third report in the 2023 small business credit survey se…
View PDF
NFIB Small Business and Inflation
Small employers were asked a series of questions on how the current state o…
View PDF
The U.S. Debt and Debt Limit Explained
The current U.S. debt is about $31.5 trillion. The current U.S. debt limit,…
View PDF
Small Business Health Insurance Survey
This survey offers data that is not otherwise widely available to better u…
View PDF
Small Business Introduction to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Part…
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was signed into law December 22, 2017. The…
View PDF
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: One Year Later Part II
The U.S. federal tax code underwent significant restructuring over the last…
View PDF

Featured

Academic Sponsorships
See awards given by NFIB Research Foundation
View PDF
Bill Dunkelberg Forbes Articles
NFIB’s Chief Economist offers expert advice on small business practices o…
View PDF

NFIB Research’s Monthly Newsletter

August 2025

The Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.7 points in July to 100.3, slightly above the 52- year average of 98. Of the 10 Optimism Index components, six increased, two decreased, and two were unchanged. The increase in those reporting better business conditions and that currently it is a good time to expand contributed most to the rise in the Index. While the Optimism Index news is positive, the Uncertainty Index news is less so. The latter increased by 8 points from June to 97, signaling significant worsening of small business uncertainty.

News Analysis

See All
A Doctor and a patient sitting down at a hospotail and looking over some medical charts at the office.
September 5, 2025
New Hampshire Small Businesses Need Better Health Coverage Opti…
How policymakers can create more affordable options
Read More
September 4, 2025
New Hampshire Small Businesses Need Better Health Coverage Opti…
Small Group market premiums rising, enrollment dropping
Read More
Tyler Dever Health affordability op-ed
September 3, 2025
Small Businesses Face Health Care Affordability Crisis
Congress needs to provide relief for cost-effective health insurance plans….
Read More
North Carolina Legislative Building
September 2, 2025
Guest Column: General Assembly Needs to Look At Health Insuranc…
Rising costs threaten North Carolina’s small businesses.
Read More

© 2001 - 2025 National Federation of Independent Business. All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Accessibility