Comment on National Survey About Inflation’s Effect on Small Business

July 19, 2022 Last Edit: May 8, 2025

Comment on National Survey About Inflation’s Effect on Small Business

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Chad Heinrich, Arizona State Director, ch@chadheinrich.com or Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, anthony.malandra@nfib.org PHOENIX, July 19, 2022—From Chad Heinrich, Arizona state director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) on today’s release of NFIB’s special survey on inflation’s effect on small businesses. The national survey, not broken down by state, was drawn from a random sample of NFIB’s membership. Nearly 75% of NFIB-member small businesses have nine or fewer employees. “Arizona’s small-business owners are battling the effects of inflation from multiple fronts. And sadly, the more than 1 million Arizonans who work for small businesses are struggling as well. Everyone is working more for less in this economy; with no end in sight. Expectations for improvement in business conditions are at a 48-year low. We can only hope at this point that our policy leaders will reject any tax increases or spending proposals that would do nothing but worsen this problem in the short or long term.” From NFIB Holly Wade, Executive Director of NFIB’s Research Foundation “Inflation has set in on Main Street and owners across the country continue to make business decisions in response. As owners manage the highest inflation rate in decades, they are also managing an ongoing worker shortage and supply chain disruptions, which is hurting their businesses and consumers.” Highlights from the Survey

Over three-quarters (79%) of small employers reported that rising “fuel (gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, etc.)” prices are a substantial contributor to higher costs.
Seventy-two percent of small employers reported “inventory, supplies, and materials” as being a substantial contributor to higher costs.
Under a third (31%) of small employers reported “labor” being a substantial contributor to higher costs.
Four percent of employers report “rent” being a substantial contributor.
Eighty-six percent of small employers are increasing the prices of their goods or services. Of those increasing prices, 7% reported that the effort was absorbing all their total cost increases, 36% reported most, about half (47%) reported some, and 9% reported a little.
Eighty-two percent of small employers absorb costs through lower business earnings to some degree. Nine percent reported this absorbing all their total cost increases, 28% most, 50% some, and 11% a little.

Retweet this news release here Keep up with the latest on Arizona small business news at www.nfib.com/arizona or by following NFIB on Twitter @NFIB_AZ ### For almost 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 its 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 Arizona 602-263-7690 NFIB.com/AZ Twitter: @NFIB_AZ