Business Trends

Small Business Insider by Raymond J. Keating- Small Business Policy Index 2018: SBE Council’s “Small Business Policy Index 2018” ranks the 50 states according to 55 different policy measures, including a wide array of tax, regulatory and government spending and performance measurements. Small Business Tax Index 2017: SBE Council’s “Small Business Tax Index 2017” ranks […]

Small Business Insider by Raymond J. Keating- State policymaking affects entrepreneurs, small businesses, investors and workers. SBE Council’s Small Business Policy Index 2018 and Small Business Tax Index 2017, which rank the states on their policy and tax climates for small business, showcases that effect. There were 36 races for governor on November 6, and the […]

    by Raymond J. Keating- When it comes to economic and income growth, productivity is a central issue. But productivity growth also had been rather abysmal from 2011 to 2017, with annual average growth registering 0.7 percent. Fortunately, according to the latest report on productivity from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. nonfarm […]

Small Business Insider   by Raymond J. Keating- Consumer confidence rides high, according to the latest take from the Conference Board. The board’s consumer confidence measure improved in October to 137.9 (1985=100), up from the September level of 135.3. Breaking this down further, the Conference Board reported: “The Present Situation Index – based on consumers’ […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The headline on real economic growth for the third quarter of this year pointed to continued strong growth. As reported by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis on October 26, real GDP growth came in at 3.5 percent in the third quarter. That followed on 4.2 percent in the second quarter. […]

Small Business Insider by Raymond J. Keating- Small Business Policy Index 2018: Georgia ranked 20th among the 50 states. SBE Council’s “Small Business Policy Index 2018” ranks the 50 states according to 55 different policy measures, including a wide array of tax, regulatory and government spending and performance measurements. Small Business Tax Index 2017: Georgia […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book, released on October 24, pointed to continued economic expansion across 12 districts, though growth was slight in the New York and St. Louis districts. Manufacturing growth was reported as “moderate,” and demand for transportation services was strong, travel and tourism picked up, agriculture was mixed, […]

Small Business Insider by Raymond J. Keating- Small Business Policy Index 2018: Florida ranked fifth best – number 5 – among the 50 states. SBE Council’s “Small Business Policy Index 2018” ranks the 50 states according to 55 different policy measures, including a wide array of tax, regulatory and government spending and performance measurements.  Small […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its first look at employment and unemployment by state for September on October 19. Unemployment Rate Unreliable The opening line of that report was, “Unemployment rates were lower in September in 9 states, higher in 4 states, and stable in 37 states and the […]

by Raymond J. Keating- Strength in the U.S. industrial sector continued in September, according to the latest report on industrial production from the Federal Reserve. Total industrial production – i.e., the output of the nation’s industrial sectors, i.e., manufacturing, mining and utilities – grew by 0.3 percent in September. And keep in mind that the […]