Business Trends

by Raymond J. Keating- Small Business Policy Index 2019: Wyoming ranked 5th – fifth best – among the 50 states. SBE Council’s “Small Business Policy Index 2019” ranks the 50 states according to 62 different policy measures, including a wide array of tax, regulatory and government spending and performance measurements. Small Business Tax Index 2019: […]

The July quits rate was the highest rate since April 2001. by Raymond J. Keating- On September 10, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its “Job Openings and Labor Turnover” report for July 2019. Job openings declined slightly, while hires were up, compared to June. Total job openings stood at 7.22 million in July. […]

 by Raymond J. Keating- Small Business Policy Index 2019: Vermont ranked 45th – or sixth worst – among the 50 states. SBE Council’s “Small Business Policy Index 2019” ranks the 50 states according to 62 different policy measures, including a wide array of tax, regulatory and government spending and performance measurements. Small Business Tax Index […]

The Digital Boost to Startups and Small Business: Online Advertising Delivers BIG Benefits SBE Council-TechnoMetrica survey of small business owners with analysis and estimates by: Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO and Raymond Keating, Chief Economist     INTRODUCTION Online advertising is saving entrepreneurs and small business owners significant time and money, creating more efficiencies and effective uses for […]

 by Raymond J. Keating- Small Business Policy Index 2019: New Hampshire ranked 27th among the 50 states.  SBE Council’s “Small Business Policy Index 2019” ranks the 50 states according to 62 different policy measures, including a wide array of tax, regulatory and government spending and performance measurements.  Small Business Tax Index 2019: New Hampshire ranked […]

by Raymond J. Keating –  The durable goods report for July from the U.S. Census Bureau pointed to overall growth. However, there’s some sluggishness in a key measure of business investment. The topline number estimated that durable goods new orders in July grew by 2.1 in July, which was up from 1.8 percent in June […]

  by Raymond J. Keating- Small Business Policy Index 2019: South Dakota ranked 4th – or fourth best – among the 50 states. SBE Council’s “Small Business Policy Index 2019” ranks the 50 states according to 62 different policy measures, including a wide array of tax, regulatory and government spending and performance measurements. Small Business […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The latest employment data on the states point to the nation being split on employment gains, but also with a distinct advantage existing for states with positive policy climates for entrepreneurship and investment. In its state employment and unemployment report for July 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that […]

by Raymond J. Keating- Assorted key economic data were released on August 15. And while labor productivity and retail sales were positive, industrial production (i.e., the real output of the manufacturing, mining, and electric and gas utilities) declined in July. According to the latest report on industrial production from the Federal Reserve, industrial production declined […]

by Raymond J. Keating- According to the latest retail sales numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, the consumer is withstanding a barrage of uncertainty and market volatility. Retail and food services sales showed a solid gain of 0.7 percent in July. The glaring negative in July was autos, which were down by 0.6 percent. In […]