Business Trends

Small Business Insider All Benefit When Federal Government Moves Policy in the Right Direction by Raymond J. Keating- 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. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis published […]

Small Business Insider   by Raymond J. Keating- Small Business Policy Index 2018: The top six states on the Index are: 1) Nevada, 2) Texas, 3) South Dakota, 4) Wyoming, 5) Florida, and 6) Arizona.   SBE Council’s “Small Business Policy Index 2018” ranks the 50 states according to 55 different policy measures, including a wide […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The Federal Reserve’s report on industrial production in August showed continuing strength, while July’s growth also was revised upward. Specifically, in terms of industry groups in August, overall industrial production – i.e., the output of the nation’s industrial sectors, i.e., manufacturing, mining and utilities – grew by 0.4 percent in August, […]

by Raymond J. Keating- In the latest edition of its Beige Book, released on September 12, the Federal Reserve served up some generally good news on the state of the U.S. economy, with trade tensions creating uncertainty and concern. The Beige Book takes a look at economic conditions in the nation’s 12 Federal Reserve districts […]

Small Business Insider by Raymond J. Keating- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.2 percent in August. Over the past 12 months, the BLS reported that CPI inflation ran at 2.7 percent. And if we look at the last six months, the annualized rate of inflation […]

The Buckeye State Has Experienced Dramatic Improvements. Will it Get Even Better?   by Raymond J. Keating- Small Business Policy Index 2018: Ohio ranked ninth best 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 […]

Small Business Insider by Raymond J. Keating- After second quarter GDP was revised up slightly for the second quarter, coming in at a solid 4.2 percent real growth, economic strength was seen in the July personal income report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis as well. Here are several observations: ● First, an extended […]

Small Business Insider by Raymond J. Keating- The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released its second estimate of second quarter GDP on August 29th. The topline revision of real GDP growth was minor, but in a positive direction, with the second quarter growth rate estimate moving from 4.1 percent to 4.2 percent. That’s the fastest […]

Small Business Insider   by Raymond J. Keating- The FDIC recently released its latest quarterly banking profile, which includes a look at the small business aspect of lending. Four big points are worth highlighting. Profits and Revenues Up First, profits and revenues for banks were up in the second quarter of this year, with the […]

Could Connecticut actually become a Top 10 small business-friendly state? It currently ranks 8th WORST, but Election Day 2018 could bring some badly needed policy surprises. by Raymond J. Keating- Small Business Policy Index 2018: Connecticut ranked 43rd – or eighth worst – among the 50 states. SBE Council’s “Small Business Policy Index 2018” ranks the […]