Nevada small business community reacts to national uncertainty

The Econo grocery store is fully stocked with food in Coamo, Puerto Rico, Oct. 16, 2017.  ©Pfc. Kyara D Aguilar | U.S. Army photo

(The Center Square) – Small business owners remain concerned about inflation, and that's not the only finding that is making headlines.

The poll of small business owners by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) says the Uncertainty Index rose nine points to 85. That is the highest it has been since November 2020.

"This should raise alarm bells for every Nevadan who is seeking public office," said Tray Abney, NFIB's Nevada state director in a news release.

With small business owners feeling uneasy about their future, Abney said that "the best thing we can do to ease their troubles" is by ensuring what NFIB calls long-term public policy stability. Examples include making the small business deduction permanent and releasing small business owners from reporting requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act.

Bill Dunkelberg, chief economist for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), said this should matter to everyone.

"The small business sector is responsible for the production of over 40% of GDP and employment, a crucial portion of the economy, but for 29 consecutive months, small business owners have expressed historically low optimism and their views about future business conditions are at the worst levels seen in 50 years," said Dunkelberg. "Small business owners need relief as inflation has not eased much on Main Street."

22% of small business owners told NFIB that inflation was their single most important issue. That's down from 25% in March but still the biggest reported problem.

Meanwhile, a seasonally adjusted 40% of owners said they had job openings they could not fill, up three points from March.