Unflinching small business optimism.
22.03.2015
A survey of 713 small business CEOs found that optimism among small
firms has remained virtually unchanged for the past four months, and
has been at its highest level since the survey began in June 2012. The
WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Confidence Index was 115.5 in the
February 2015 survey. This reading is identical to January’s reading and
nearly equal to December’s 115.0 and November’s 115.6. The steadfast
optimism indicates that small business CEOs hold a deep sense of
confidence about prospects for the U.S. economy.
The small changes in the components of the Confidence Index pale
in comparison to the stability of optimism, which remains at record
high levels. This renewed sense of confidence has not wavered despite
uneven news on the domestic and global economies. Nor has it yielded
to weather-induced losses due to the harsh winter as it did last year.
Overall, the data indicate that small businesses expect a stronger
economy, and as a consequence, a tighter labor market during the year
ahead. This will result in continue upward pressures on wages as well as
draw more idled workers into the labor force.
Tim is a Consultant to Business, Government and Not-for-Profits Organizations specializing in innovative and challenging ways for organizations to survive, to thrive and to build their teams.
