Topics:
Small Business Owners Pessimistic About Future Business Conditions
Small Business Owners Pessimistic About Future Business Conditions
December 12, 2023
Small Business Owners Pessimistic About Future Business Conditions
- Owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months increased one point from October to a net negative 42% seasonally adjusted.
- A net negative 17% of all owners (seasonally adjusted) reported higher nominal sales in the past three months, unchanged from October and the lowest reading since July 2020.
- Forty percent (seasonally adjusted) of owners reported job openings that were hard to fill, down three points.
- Seasonally adjusted, a net 30% of owners plan to raise compensation in the next three months, up six points from October and the highest since December 2021.
- The net percent of owners raising average selling prices decreased five points from October to a net 25% (seasonally adjusted).
- The net percent of owners who expect real sales to be higher increased two points from October to a net negative 8% (seasonally adjusted).
Get to know NFIB
NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.
Related Articles

July 18, 2025
Illinois Added 13,300 Private Sector Jobs over the Past Year
The Illinois public sector grew by 21,700 jobs
Read More

July 17, 2025
What “No Tax on Tips” and “No Tax on Overtime” Means fo…
On July 4, 2025, H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, was signed into la…
Read More

July 17, 2025
Small Businesses Ask for Clarity Regarding Arbitration Exemptio…
NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case Madrigal v. Ferguson at the U.S. Cou…
Read More

July 16, 2025
July Webinars Provide HR Tips and a Small Business Deduction Up…
NFIB hosted an informative webinar detailing the five most frequent HR mist…
Read More