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

HELENA, Mont., June 9, 2026—From Ronda Wiggers, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in Montana, on today’s release of NFIB’s monthly Small Business Economic Trends (SBET) report, showing it falling 0.6 points in May to 95.3, remaining below its 52-year average of 98.0. The Uncertainty Index rose 3 points from April to 91, remaining well above its historical average of 68.

“It looks as if the nation’s small business economy is experiencing some bumpiness, but I think our state’s low regulatory and tax environment, combined with Congress making the 20% Small Business Deduction permanent, will help Main Street enterprises weather the slight turbulence. Now, if Congress can pass two other bills, one repealing the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirement and registry and the other reforming credit card swipe fees, that will help Main Street enterprises hugely. More here.

The NFIB Research Center has collected Small Business Economic Trends Data with Quarterly surveys since 1973 and monthly surveys since 1986. The sample is drawn from the membership files of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).

From NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg

“AI investment spending has contributed to some excitement in the economy. Despite the enthusiasm around AI, the overall picture is divided. More small business owners are struggling with significant and unpredictable hikes in fuel prices, which are more challenging for small businesses to pass on to their customers compared to their larger corporate competitors.”

Highlights from the May SBET Include:

• Eighteen percent of business owners cited inflation as their single most important business problem, up 2 points from April and marking the highest reading since December 2024.
• In May, reports of both actual and planned price increases rose significantly. The net percent of owners raising average selling prices rose 6 points from April to a net 36% (seasonally adjusted), marking the highest reading since March 2023. A net 34% (seasonally adjusted) plan to increase prices, up 7 points from April and marking the highest reading since July 2022.
• Sixteen percent (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners plan to make capital outlays in the next six months, down 1 point from April and the lowest level since March 2009.
• Seventy percent of small business owners reported that supply chain disruptions affected their business to some extent, up 6 points from April.

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