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

HELENA, Mont., Feb.11, 2025—The sunny outlook along the Main Streets of America dimmed a little in the latest monthly Small Business Optimism Index from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), released today, but it still remained above its 51-year average—and for a third consecutive month.

“I think a third consecutive month of positive small business optimism quite remarkable, considering that prior to it, our Index showed it below its 51-year average for 34 months straight,” said Ronda Wiggers, state director for NFIB in Montana. “Now, the goal of state and federal policymakers should be do everything possible to sustain the momentum.”

Wiggers said making the 20% Small Business Deduction a permanent feature of the tax code would be the best thing Congress could do, while here in Montana, the Legislature would be helpful to keep up the momentum it’s building on lowering unemployment insurance premiums, passing tort reform measures, and tackling property taxes. More about NFIB’s state legislative agenda can be read here.

NFIB’s monthly Small Business Optimism Index is the gold standard measurement of America’s small business economy. Used by the Federal Reserve, Congressional leaders, administration officials, and state legislatures across the nation, it’s regarded as the bellwether on the health and welfare of the Main Street enterprises that employ half of all workers, generate more net new jobs than large corporations, and gave most of us the first start in our working life. The Optimism Index (aka Small Business Economic Trends report) is a national snapshot of NFIB-member, small-business owners not broken down by state. The typical NFIB member employs between one and nine people and reports gross sales of about $500,000 a year.

From NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg

“Overall, small business owners remain optimistic regarding future business conditions, but uncertainty is on the rise. Hiring challenges continue to frustrate Main Street owners as they struggle to find qualified workers to fill their many open positions. Meanwhile, fewer plan capital investments as they prepare for the months ahead.”

Highlights from the Latest Small Business Optimism Index

• The net percent of owners expecting the economy to improve fell five points from December to a net 47% (seasonally adjusted).
• Thirty-five percent (seasonally adjusted) of all owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, unchanged from December.
• Twenty percent (seasonally adjusted) plan capital outlays in the next six months, down seven points from December.
• A net 3% of owners reported that their last loan was harder to get than in previous attempts (down one point). The last time it was this low was June 2022.
• A net 0% (seasonally adjusted) of owners plan inventory investment in the coming months, down six points from December’s highest reading since December 2021.

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 more than 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
www.nfib.com/montana

Twitter: @NFIB_MT