FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ronda Wiggers, State Director, rondakwiggers@gmail.com
or Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, anthony.malandra@nfib.org

HELENA, Mont., March 10, 2026—From Ronda Wiggers, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in Montana, on today’s findings 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.

“Taxes are almost never a cause for optimism, but this year’s tax season might be a little less grim thanks to the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction being made a permanent feature of the tax code instead of expiring at the end of last year. I want to thank again the many Montana small business owners who rallied to the cause of making it permanent. It wasn’t easy. And I want to thank Sen. Steve Daines one more time for his stellar leadership on the issue.”

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 Montana small business news at www.nfib.com or by following us on X at @NFIB_MT.

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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 Montana
406-899-9659
rondakwiggers@gmail.com
NFIB.com
X: @NFIB_MT