National Federation of Independent Business

Economy

NFIB reports decline in small business optimism amid rising fuel costs, labor shortages

Job openings hit their lowest level since 2020 as owners scaled back hiring plans and prepared to raise prices.

June 11, 2026

House committee advances bill to exclude credit card transaction fees from sales tax

Business leaders praised the legislation for providing statutory clarity, while local government advocates warned of lost municipal revenue.

April 2, 2026

Small business optimism dips as sales improve but costs rise

Small business optimism dipped in February as owners navigated rising costs and competition, though sales and profit trends reached multiyear highs.

March 11, 2026

New NFIB Jobs Report shows uptick in employment

Small business hiring grew in February as the labor market tightened, though owners struggled to find qualified applicants for open positions.

March 6, 2026

NFIB commends Gov. Ivey ahead of final State of the State address

NFIB thanked Gov. Kay Ivey for successful efforts to lower costs and reduce taxes, creating a better climate for Alabama's small business owners.

January 13, 2026

NFIB: Workforce, regulatory reform, tax relief top priorities as Alabama Legislature convenes

NFIB State Director Rosemary Elebash addressed Alabama's ongoing labor shortage, urging lawmakers to ease regulatory and tax burdens on small businesses this session.

January 9, 2026

NFIB: Small business optimism declines in September

Small business optimism dipped in September, influenced by rising inflation, labor challenges, and slower sales expectations.

October 15, 2025

NFIB: 36 percent of small businesses report unfilled jobs in June survey

Hiring challenges persist nationwide as small business owners struggle to find qualified applicants, despite a cooling labor market and rising compensation efforts.

July 3, 2025

NFIB launches new tools to highlight benefits of 20 percent Small Business Tax Deduction

An interactive map and tax calculator from NFIB detail how permanently extending the 20 percent small business deduction could boost jobs, GDP and tax savings.

May 23, 2025

Stronger small businesses start with skilled workers

Main Street businesses should focus on running their operations, not training workers from the ground up.

March 3, 2025