FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anthony Smith, NFIB Oregon State Director, 503-364-4450, anthony.smith@nfib.org
or Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, 415-640-5156, anthony.malandra@nfib.org

SALEM, Ore., Feb. 11, 2025—Release of the latest monthly Small Business Optimism Index today by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) showed a slight dip in outlook among the nation’s small business owners, but one that was still above the Index’s 51-year average.

“It’s important to remember that prior to the current three-month run of above-average optimism, the Index recorded 34 consecutive months below the 51-year average,” said Anthony Smith, state director for NFIB in Oregon. “A return to heightened and sustained levels of uncertainty within the small-business sector of the economy could jeopardize this favorable outlook. If state and federal policymakers are paying attention, they should pursue a business environment where small businesses can stay focused on their business operations, and worry less about how government is going to hurt them.”

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 Oregon small-business news at www.nfib.com or on Twitter at @NFIB_OR

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For 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.

National Federation of Independent Business Oregon
1149 Court Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-364-4450
www.nfib.com/oregon
X: NFIB_OR