Press Releases

  by Raymond J. Keating – There wasn’t much good news from the Federal Reserve and on Fed-related policy outcomes on January 12. First, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Consumer Price Index inflation continued to run hot in December at 0.5 percent. And for all of 2021, inflation came in at 7 percent, […]

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) will hold a markup where various Biden Administration nominations will be considered, including David Weil for the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor (DOL). The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council […]

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, D.C. – This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee announced it would soon markup the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (S.2992), an intrusive regulatory bill that aims to vastly alter the business models and services of certain “big tech” companies. If enacted, according to the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council […]

NEWS For Immediate Release Washington, D.C. – Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that inflation spiked 7% in December 2021, the fastest growth since 1982.  Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) president & CEO Karen Kerrigan and chief economist Raymond Keating issued the following statement in response to the latest BLS data, […]

by Raymond J. Keating – The minimum wage is one of very few issues where most economists are in agreement, specifically, that an increased minimum wage mandate by government leads to reduced job opportunities for certain groups of workers, and increased costs for labor-intensive businesses, with small businesses getting hit hardest. While the push persists […]

by Raymond J. Keating – The latest employment report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics actually is stronger than what’s been widely noted in the media. As usual, too much focus is placed on one survey included in the jobs report – the establishment survey – while ignoring the other survey – the household […]

  by Raymond J. Keating – Growth continued in the services sector of the U.S. economy, according to the latest takes from purchasing managers. It was reported in IHS Markit Services PMI: “All seven broad categories monitored by the US Sector PMI signalled a rise in business activity during December, up from six in November.” […]

by Raymond J. Keating – When a global pandemic hits, trade naturally is going to suffer. At the same time, trade remains vital to the well-being of American entrepreneurs, businesses, workers and consumers. So, we need a strong recovery and growth in both exports and imports. Unfortunately, that has not been the case so far. […]

In a January 6, Real Clear Markets Op-ed, SBE Council president & CEO Karen Kerrigan outlines big problems at the International Trade Commission (ITC) and points to bipartisan legislation that can help get the agency back to its mission of protecting U.S. industry from unfair foreign competition. As she writes in her piece: “Patent trolls […]

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, D.C. – Statement of Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council president & CEO Karen Kerrigan on the one-year observance of January 6, 2021: “On this solemn day, let each of us pledge to uphold democracy and our democratic institutions in unity and through nonpartisan advocacy, education and actions. The 2020 election […]