Press Releases

by RAYMOND J. KEATING- The latest durable goods report from the U.S. Census Bureau served up a mixed story for manufacturing in April. The troubling aspect of this report is that durable goods new orders declined by 1.3 percent in April 2021. That was the first decline since April 2020, when we were in the […]

NEWS For Immediate Release Washington, D.C. – In response to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s “no show” at a U.S. House Small Business Committee hearing today – as required by law – regarding COVID-19 government programs assisting small businesses, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) president & CEO Karen Kerrigan issued the following statement: […]

by RAYMOND J. KEATING- The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index basically held steady in May. The index now came in at 117.2 (1985=100) in May, which was down ever so slightly from April’s  117.5. The Conference Board’s measure is actually a composite of two indices. The Present Situation Index offers consumer views on the current […]

by Raymond J. Keating- The nonfarm payroll employment numbers for the states were disappointing for April. According to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment increased in nine states, declined in two, and “was essentially unchanged in 39 states.” The two states that experienced a statistically significant decline in nonfarm payrolls […]

SBE Council’s Kerrigan Makes the List These executives, speakers and podcast hosts  – including SBE Council president & CEO Karen Kerrigan – know how to use tech to take smaller organizations to the next level — and how to do it in today’s unprecedented working climate. From Twitter to LinkedIn and YouTube, here are 30 […]

In recent times, the heated political rhetoric of immigration often overwhelms or drowns out sound economics on immigration. Unfortunately, despite the U.S. truly being a nation of immigrants, this is not a unique situation in our history. Nonetheless, there are opportunities to consider some straightforward and instructive data on immigration, and that includes the “Foreign-Born […]

by RAYMOND J. KEATING- Housing starts fell more than expected in April, according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau. Privately‐owned housing starts came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,569,000 in April, which was down by 9.5 percent compared to the revised March estimate of 1,733,000. However, it must be […]

Small businesses and the self-employed turn to technology to help them through the most difficult period most have ever faced. Technology tools and platforms kept Main Street alive during COVID-19, but in response Congress is looking to move radical legislation and regulation that would undermine this critical ecosystem. In a TownHall Op-ed, Small Business & […]

by RAYMOND J. KEATING – A pattern is emerging, and it is not surprising. Government aid checks go out the door to households. Retail sales jump temporarily, and then sales growth disappears rather quickly. That’s what happened in January and February of this year, for example, and now it has occurred again in March and […]

By KAREN KERRIGAN- At the midway point of the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS’s) fiscal year, a major take-away is the continued story of financial losses and soaring costs. These recent results, combined with $188 billion in unfunded liabilities, have prompted the USPS to develop a new 10-year business plan, “Delivering for America.” While well intentioned, […]