by Calculated Risk on 7/08/2025 08:31:00 AM
Note: Usually small business owners complain about taxes and regulations (currently 1st and 6th on the “Single Most Important Problem” list). During a recession, “poor sales” is usually the top problem and recently “inflation” was number 1.
From the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB): June 2025 Report: Small Business Optimism Index
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index remained steady in June, edging down 0.2 of a point to 98.6, slightly above the 51-year average of 98. A substantial increase in respondents reporting excess inventories contributed the most to the decline in the index. The Uncertainty Index decreased by five points from May to 89. Nineteen percent of small business owners reported taxes as their single most important problem, up one point from May and ranking as the top problem again. The last time taxes reached 19 percent was in July 2021.
emphasis added
This graph shows the small business optimism index since 1986.
Right now for most important problem, after taxes (19%), “Quality of Labor” (16%) is #2, inflation (11%) is #3, and “Poor Sales” (10%) and “Cost of Labor” are tied for #4.