Business Trends

by Raymond J. Keating– The latest Consumer Price Index news from the U.S. Bureau of labor Statistics (BLS) offered a welcome downshift in inflation. CPI inflation, after being low for several months, took a jump higher in March and April of this year, hitting 0.4 percent in March and 0.3 percent in April. As we […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The May employment report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics points to a slowdown in job growth in May and over the past few months. First, the establishment survey showed that payrolls increased by only 75,000 in May. That also followed on payroll gains being revised downward for March (from […]

by Raymond J. Keating- Small Business Policy Index 2019: Nevada ranked number two – or second best – among the 50 states, while California ranked 49th – or second worst. 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 […]

by Raymond J. Keating- Data and news continue to serve up a conflicting look at the U.S. economy. Measures swing between points indicating solid, middling and weakening growth. The latest take via the Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book released on June 5 seems to point to growth being middling, or in Fed-speak, “modest.” Consider 10 […]

by Raymond J. Keating- Taxes impact small businesses year-round, and state lawmakers are continually making changes to either lift tax burdens or make them heavier for entrepreneurs, so let’s take a look at how the states rank in terms of their tax policy climates. The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council just published the “Small Business […]

by Raymond J. Keating- First quarter GDP growth was updated by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis on May 30th, and that came two days after the latest take on consumer confidence from the Conference Board. Real GDP growth in the first quarter of 2019 was downgraded slightly from an initial estimate of  3.2 percent […]

by Raymond J. Keating- So, which metropolitan areas are excelling in terms of job growth? SBE Council just took a look at the latest state data on employment, and now the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released its latest report on “Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment.” First, it’s interesting to note that employment growth […]

by Raymond J. Keating- Texas is #1 for Policy Friendliness   Small Business Policy Index 2019: Texas ranked the very best – that is, #1 – 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 […]

by Raymond J. Keating- New Jersey Ranks Dead Last for Small Business Policy Friendliness Small Business Policy Index 2019: New Jersey ranked 50th, or dead last, 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 […]

  by Raymond J. Keating- Durable goods orders took a dive in April, according to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Census. Durable goods orders dropped by 2.1 percent in April. In addition, March orders were revised down from an increase of 2.6 percent to 1.7 percent. The big negative in April was […]