Topics:
New: NFIB Industry-Specific Small Business Economic Trends Survey
New: NFIB Industry-Specific Small Business Economic Trends Survey
September 7, 2022
New: NFIB Industry-Specific Small Business Economic Trends Survey
- The Optimism Index for construction was 91.3 in July, down 1.2 points from April’s quarterly report.
- Owners in construction had the highest percentage of unfilled job openings among all industries at 62%, up four points from April.
- Sixty percent of the job openings in construction are for skilled workers, up six points from last quarter.
- Sixty-seven percent of construction firms reported few or no qualified applicants, up three points from April.
- Seventy-three percent of construction firms reported raising prices in July, down eight points from last quarter but historically very high.
- Earnings trends in construction fell by two points from the previous quarter to a net negative 22%.
- The manufacturing sector continues to be more optimistic compared to other industries, with the Optimism Index at 93.2 in July, 3.3 points above the overall optimism.
- Fifty-nine percent of firms reported unfilled job openings, second only to the construction industry and 10 percentage points higher than all firms.
- A net 28% of firms plan to create new jobs in the next three months, unchanged from April and eight percentage points higher than the overall small business economy.
- Future sales expectations declined 28 points in July from April’s quarterly report, a net negative 29% expecting higher real sales, historically a very poor reading.
- The retail industry exhibited a notably lower level of optimism than the average for all firms in July with an industry Optimism Index of 85.8, down eight points from April.
- Earnings trends in retail fell 15 points from the previous quarter to a net negative 33%.
- Retail owners’ expectations about economic conditions over the next six months declined seven points to a net negative 53%.
- Zero percent of retailers report current inventory levels “too low”, compared to 2% (net) of all small businesses.
- Retailers have decreased inventory levels, and a net negative 6% plan to increase inventories over the next three to six months, seven points below all firms.
- The service sector Optimism Index decreased in July by two points to 92.2 and is 2.3 points above the overall index.
- Most of the decrease in the service sector optimism was driven by a decrease in expectations that the economy will improve and expectations of real higher sales.
- Service businesses’ concern about future sales over the next three months was unchanged from April at a net negative 8% of owners.
Get to know NFIB
NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.
Related Articles

April 24, 2025
NFIB Minnesota To Governor Walz: “Don’t Leave Out Small Bus…
NFIB Minnesota will continue fighting for pro-small business policies
Read More

April 23, 2025
NFIB Asks for Small Business Consideration in Future WOTUS Rule…
NFIB sent a comment letter to the EPA and Army providing suggestions for ho…
Read More

April 18, 2025
Illinois Ranks 46th out of 50 States for Economic Competitivene…
Illinois climbed two places, from 48th to 46th, in the rankings but continu…
Read More

April 16, 2025
New Polling Shows Strong Support for the 20% Small Business Ded…
As Congress debates tax policy, new polling shows bipartisan American suppo…
Read More