Podcasts about small business optimism index

This episode was recorded prior to the House passing the Big Beautiful Tax Bill on May 22, 2025. Gene Marks shares insights on the Big Beautiful Tax Bill and on the importance of keeping the tax credits for small businesses. That might lift their spirits but, according to the Small Business Optimism Index, not much else is rosy. Sales volumes are down, plans for capital outlay are down, and that has optimism down for a fourth month. Gene also talks about the buy-now pay-later service Klarna doing a 180-degree turn, choosing human hires over AI after going all in on AI three years ago. DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's International Roadcheck is underway and continues through Thursday. The National Federation of Independent Businesses released their Small Business Optimism Index; Kevin discusses the results and offers his insights. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the April Consumer Price Index; Kevin digs into the details, discussed the information and offers his insights. Oil reacts to US- China tariff relief, increasing OPEC+ crude oil production, U.S. inflation data, ceasefires and peace negotiations.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's International Roadcheck is underway and continues through Thursday. The National Federation of Independent Businesses released their Small Business Optimism Index; Kevin discusses the results and offers his insights. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the April Consumer Price Index; Kevin digs into the details, discussed the information and offers his insights. Oil reacts to US- China tariff relief, increasing OPEC+ crude oil production, U.S. inflation data, ceasefires and peace negotiations.

The podcast discusses the significant impact of recent tariff policies on the technology sector and small businesses in the U.S. Consumer sentiment has sharply declined, with a notable 11% drop reported in April, driven by fears of rising inflation and economic uncertainty. The Trump administration's decision to exempt certain electronics from new tariffs has not alleviated concerns, as many CIOs are pausing IT projects due to budget disruptions. This uncertainty is expected to trickle down to mid-market IT and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), leading to deferred spending and hiring freezes.Small businesses are particularly feeling the strain, as highlighted by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), which reported a decline in its Small Business Optimism Index. Business owners are increasingly worried about the economic climate, with many citing taxes and labor quality as primary concerns. A Reddit thread among small business owners revealed fears of significant price increases due to tariffs, with some reporting staggering import fees that could jeopardize their operations. This sentiment reflects a broader trend of panic among small businesses, which are core customers for many service providers.The podcast also touches on the intersection of politics and cybersecurity, particularly in light of recent executive orders signed by President Trump targeting former officials and a cybersecurity firm. The actions have created a chilling effect within the cybersecurity industry, with many organizations hesitant to speak out against government actions due to fears of retaliation. This situation raises concerns about the neutrality of the cybersecurity sector and the potential for political pressures to influence technology decisions.Finally, the discussion shifts to cloud spending, which has exceeded initial budgets for many CIOs. Despite the overspend, a majority of respondents in a recent survey reported net savings from cloud adoption, indicating that the value proposition remains intact. Managed service providers (MSPs) are positioned to help organizations optimize their cloud investments and manage costs effectively. The podcast emphasizes the need for providers to adapt to the changing landscape, offering strategic guidance and support to clients navigating these turbulent times. Four things to know today 00:00 Tariffs Up, Sentiment Down: Why Tech Spend May Be the Next to Stall05:22 Small Businesses Are Hurting—and MSPs Need to Help More Than Ever 09:42 Politics Meets Cybersecurity as Trump's Orders Stir Fear and Silence12:46 CIOs Blow Past Cloud Budgets, Giving MSPs a Bigger Seat at the Table  Supported by:  https://www.huntress.com/mspradio/ https://cometbackup.com/?utm_source=mspradio&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=sponsorship  Join Dave April 22nd to learn about Marketing in the AI Era.  Signup here:  https://hubs.la/Q03dwWqg0 All our Sponsors: https://businessof.tech/sponsors/ Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://www.businessof.tech/ Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/ Want to be a guest on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights? Send Dave Sobel a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.com Follow us on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079/YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mspradio/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoftechBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/businessof.tech

Jim Garrity from Triple A Mid-Atlantic on gas prices. Gil White- state director of the National Federation of Independent Business on the Small Business Optimism Index.

The National Federation of Independent Business released their Small Business Optimism Index, Kevin has the details. The Port of L.A. and the Port of Long Beach reported their 2024 put through volumes, Kevin has the details. Transportation Merger & Acquisitions gained momentum in late 2024, Kevin has the numbers and the expectations for 2025. Oil prices react to the effects of sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil supplies, escalating trade tariffs, global economic growth, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's comments to the Senate Banking Committee that they are in no rush to cut interest rates and anticipated reports on U. S. and global supply and demand forecasts.

The National Federation of Independent Business released their Small Business Optimism Index, Kevin has the details. The Port of L.A. and the Port of Long Beach reported their 2024 put through volumes, Kevin has the details. Transportation Merger & Acquisitions gained momentum in late 2024, Kevin has the numbers and the expectations for 2025. Oil prices react to the effects of sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil supplies, escalating trade tariffs, global economic growth, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's comments to the Senate Banking Committee that they are in no rush to cut interest rates and anticipated reports on U. S. and global supply and demand forecasts.

Omar and Cole kick off this week's episode with some recent macro releases that help set the stage for 2025, then touch on some of what's happened in the capital markets since this year started. Finally, they share a number of initial industry themes for 2025 from the recent CREFC conference in Miami, and others based on personal observations of the commercial real estate market. Key moments:01:23 Federal Reserve's Beige Book insights06:38 Capital markets and economic indicators07:50 Small Business Optimism Index and housing data11:26 Retail sales and market reactions21:58 Commercial Real Estate Finance Council Conference highlights26:13 Legislative and regulatory priorities31:25 Upcoming episodes and announcements Resources mentioned:Beige Book - https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/publications/beige-book-default.htmNFIB Small Business Optimism Index - https://www.nfib.com/news-article/optimism-index-reaches-six-year-high-as-inflation-remains-top-concern/CREFC conference – Miami - https://www.crefc.org/january2025Q4 2024 CRE Industry Conditions and Sentiment Survey - https://www.altusgroup.com/featured-insights/us-cre-industry-conditions-and-sentiment-survey/ Thanks for listening to the “CRE Exchange” podcast, powered by Altus Group. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.#CRE #CommercialRealEstate #Property

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released its Small Business Optimism Index; the first since the November election. Kevin talks about the key points. The U.S. Labor Department's consumer price index has been released. Is inflation continuing to improve? Oil reacts to the European Union agreeing to an additional round of sanctions on Russia and targeting its "shadow fleet"; fuel inventories post larger-than-expected stock builds; OPEC cutting demand growth outlook for 2024 and 2025 for the fifth consecutive month and the anticipated rise in Chinese demand as Beijing plans economic growth boost.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released its Small Business Optimism Index; the first since the November election. Kevin talks about the key points. The U.S. Labor Department's consumer price index has been released. Is inflation continuing to improve? Oil reacts to the European Union agreeing to an additional round of sanctions on Russia and targeting its "shadow fleet"; fuel inventories post larger-than-expected stock builds; OPEC cutting demand growth outlook for 2024 and 2025 for the fifth consecutive month and the anticipated rise in Chinese demand as Beijing plans economic growth boost.

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index came in above expectations at 93.7. Holly Wade joins to break down the report and discusses the outlook for the rest of the year. She highlights wage competition, inflation, and interest rates squeezing small business owners. ======== Schwab Network ======== Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribe Download the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185 Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7 Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watch Watch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-explore Watch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/ Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetwork Follow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetwork Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

The Small Business Optimism Index hit a high for 2024; federal agencies team up to stop illegal e-cigarette sales; Apple unveils A.I. features; GameStop stock rally appears to be ending.

Dividend Cafe: June 11 Market Commentary and Economic Update In this episode of Dividend Cafe, we cover the market's performance on June 11th, noting that despite a slight overall decline, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ posted gains, while Treasury yields fell due to a strong auction of two-year notes. We also discuss the uptick in the Small Business Optimism Index, reflecting ongoing economic concerns such as interest rates and potential policy changes. Key upcoming events include a core CPI number and the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. 00:00 Introduction to Dividend Cafe 00:16 Market Overview and Performance 00:44 Treasury Auction and Interest Rates 01:09 Small Business Optimism Index 02:04 Upcoming Economic Data Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

A WINNER - CTP for Rumble A new CTP to announce! Club 72 Thank You Solar Eclipse PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter Warm Up - A WINNER - CTP for Rumble - A new CTP to announce! - Club 72 - Solar Eclipse Market Update - Boeing issues continue - Oil market on fire - Yellen - talking tariffs again - Kashkari and others on cuts - Earnings season starts this week Lucky CLUB 72 Jonathan Farris Mark Studebaker William Palmer Susan Erickson Terrence Cleary Anonymous (2) Fed Walking All Back - Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank President Neel Kashkari said on Thursday that at the U.S. central bank's meeting last month he penciled in two interest rate cuts this year but if inflation continues to stall, none may be required by year end. - "If we continue to see inflation moving sideways, then that would make me question whether we need to do those rate cuts at all," Kashkari said during an interview with Pensions & Investments. "There's a lot of momentum in the economy right now." Walking Forward - Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman said Friday that it's possible interest rates may have to move higher to control inflation, rather than the cuts her fellow officials have indicated are likely and that the market is expecting. - "While it is not my baseline outlook, I continue to see the risk that at a future meeting we may need to increase the policy rate further should progress on inflation stall or even reverse," Who is the best? -If you were wondering about the track record of the Fed Chair's performance over time, it's worth delving into the historical data. - Overall, the track record of Fed Chairs over time reflects the challenges and complexities of managing monetary policy in a dynamic and ever-changing economic environment. Each Chair has faced unique circumstances and challenges during their tenure, and their actions have had far-reaching implications for financial markets and the economy as a whole.   Whispers - Hearing that the car business - used and new having one of the worst years on record (from selective car salespeople) - Same as above on lower end boat business (sales) - U.S. small-business confidence slipped to the lowest level in more than 11 years in March amid rising concerns about inflation, according to a survey on Tuesday. - The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) said its Small Business Optimism Index fell 0.9 point to 88.5 last month, the lowest level since December 2012. It was the 27th straight month the index was below the 50-year average of 98. - - Twenty-five percent of owners reported inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business, reflecting higher input and labor costs, up 2 points from February. The share of businesses raising average selling prices rose 7 points from the prior month. Inflation Data and ECO - CPI and PPI this week - CPI expectations are 0.4% MoM for March --- Many are sahing that this is a clean month without odd seasonal factors - so something to watch - - 10 Yr at 4.378% ----------- FOMC minutes at 2:00 Wednesday -- Last week - Employment situation continues to be strong - 3.8% Unemployment rate 300k added to payrolls (Wage growth was okay) Earnings Season - Banks in Focus - Banks are expected to see some decline in earnings over the period - Focus on net interest margin as well as credit deterioration (and days outstanding) - However, YoY - earnings growth for some look pretty good - - - - Property & Casualty Insurance (87%), Reinsurance (62%), Life & Health Insurance (12%), and Multi-line Insurance (12%). REMOTE WORK on the sea

National Federation of Independent Businesses, small business optimism index edge down to 89.4% in Feb 2024. The lowest in 9 months. Small business owners reported that inflation was their single most important business problem as is the cost of capital and labor.

The NFIB has released its Small Business Optimism Index today, which says 23 percent of small business owners report inflation is their single most important problem in operating their business. That replaces labor quality as the top top problem. NFIB Missouri director Brad Jones joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Mid-Missouri", telling listeners that that their small business economic trend survey has gone out monthly for 50 years. He says of the ten factors, seven are down last month. Mr. Jones also says that 37 percent of members have jobs but can't fill them. He also says it's getting harder and harder to find qualified electricians and heating and cooling operators. Jones says when you do find them, you have to pay them:

In this episode of the Business of Tech, host Dave Sobel discusses three important topics. First, he explores the importance of making the right tech choices by considering factors such as security and total cost of ownership. Next, he delves into the regulatory spotlight, discussing the return of net neutrality and Amazon's antitrust troubles. Finally, Sobel discusses the impact of remote work on workplace harassment and provides insights for providers. The episode also includes a sponsorship message from Alinea Partners, a sales readiness assessment company. Additionally, Sobel highlights the NFIB's Small Business Optimism Index, which reveals a decline in optimism among small business owners due to concerns about inflation, rising prices, hiring difficulties, declining sales, and labor quality and costs. Lastly, he shares the findings of a Forrester survey commissioned by CloudFlare, which shows that lack of cloud connectivity is undermining enterprise IT and security management, with cloud complexity and app decentralization being contributing factors. Three things to know today 00:00 Making the Right Tech Choices: Security and Total Cost of Ownership 04:36 Regulatory Spotlight: The Return of Net Neutrality and Amazon's Antitrust Troubles 06:10 Remote Work and Its Impact on Workplace Harassment: What Providers Need to Know Advertiser: https://alinea-partners.com/https://partnerhero.com/businessoftech/Looking for a link from the stories? The entire script of the show, with links to articles, are posted in each story on https://businessof.tech/Do you want the show on your podcast app or the written versions of the stories? Subscribe to the Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/Support the show on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mspradio/Want our stuff? Cool Merch? Wear “Why Do We Care?” - Visit https://mspradio.myspreadshop.comFollow us on:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mspradionews/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mspradionews/

In the latest episode of the CRE Exchange, Cole Perry, Altus Group's Senior Market Analyst, and Omar Eltorai, the Director of Research, evaluate the most recent economic indicators, including Small Business Optimism Index, CPI, PPI and business inventory levels. They analyze how these numbers could potentially impact the commercial real estate market.Key Takeaways:[1:24] What the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index indicates about US small businesses' appetite for investment in real estate.[2:28] Whether the latest CPI and PPI numbers give us an idea of what the Fed and central banks will do next to address inflation.[4:56] What may be in store for the industrial sector based on the recent retail and business inventory numbers.[7:42] Whether higher prices and lower supplies of single-family homes may be in our future.[12:17] What's on Omar and Cole's watchlist over the next weekResources Mentioned:Cole Perry -https://www.linkedin.com/in/coleperry1/Omar Eltorai -https://www.linkedin.com/in/omareltorai/Altus Group -https://www.linkedin.com/company/altus-group/NFIB Small Business Optimism Index -https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/nfib-business-optimism-indexConsumer Price Index (CPI) -https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htmProducer Price Index (PPI) -https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ppi.nr0.htmThanks for listening to the CRE Exchange podcast, powered by Altus Group. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.#CRE #CommercialRealEstate #Property

It's Thursday, January 12th, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Persecution hot spots: Myanmar, Iran, China, India, Afghan, and Turkey International Christian Concern recently shared where they expect persecution hotspots to be this year. Christians in China face more crackdowns on house churches and religious leaders. Myanmar's political coup has increased pressure on Christians including attacks and bombings on churches. Iran has used the international distractions of the Ukraine war to continue their arrests and torture of Christians.  Meanwhile, Christians in India face more and more states adopting anti-conversion laws that target them. The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has pushed Christianity completely underground. And Turkey's government is spreading persecution in neighboring countries as they monopolize terrorist groups and harass Christians. Psalm 14:4 asks, “Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up My people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD?” French fight over doctor-assisted suicide Last month, France's highest administrative court rejected challenges to the country's law against assisted suicide. Despite the ruling though, France is still considering legalizing such murder. Last September, the government opened a six-month timeframe for civil conversation on the matter. Evangelical groups like the French National Council of Evangelical Churches are speaking out. One leader said, “Every human being is created and loved by God, and his or her dignity does not diminish with age, social status, or the decline of physical and cognitive abilities.” World economy will only grow by 1.7% The World Bank's latest forecast expects the global economy to grow just 1.7% this year, down from its estimate of 3% last year. The organization said the US, the Eurozone, and China are “all undergoing a period of pronounced weakness” and that the global economy is “perilously close to falling into recession.” In the U.S., big banks are expected to report a 17% drop in net profits from the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with a year before. And the U.S. Small Business Optimism Index fell to 89% last month, marking the twelfth consecutive month the index was below the half-century average of 98%. FAA computer failure biggest grounding since 9/11 Thousands of flights across the U.S. were canceled or delayed Wednesday after a system that offers safety information to pilots failed, prompting a government investigation into the breakdown which grounded some planes for hours, reports the Associated Press. The Federal Aviation Administration said preliminary indications “traced the outage to a damaged database file.” The agency said it would take steps to avoid another similar disruption. The breakdown showed how much American air travel depends on the computer system that generates alerts called Notice to Air Missions. Before a plane takes off, pilots and airline dispatchers must review the notices, which include details about bad weather, runway closures or other temporary factors that could affect the flight. AZ Christian school in trouble for firing LHBT-supporting teacher Arizona's largest Christian school is facing a lawsuit for their Biblical hiring practices. Valley Christian School's former teacher Adam McDorman filed a complaint in federal court last month. The school dismissed McDorman in 2021 after he defended people living sexually perverted lifestyles. The issue came up after a student posted online that she was “pansexual.” The school requires students and faculty to embrace its values which include a statement on Biblical marriage and sexuality.  Pentagon rescinds COVID-shot requirement The Pentagon officially rescinded its COVID-shot requirement for service members on Tuesday. Going forward, people currently serving in the military will not be dismissed for refusing to get the shot. However, various military branches have already discharged at least 8,400 troops for refusing to get the shot. It is unclear if the military will allow those discharged back into active service. 90% of California under flood watch Ninety percent of California was under a flood watch on Monday.  Heavy rainstorms are causing deadly mudslides, flooded towns, and power outages. At least 17 people have died in the storms since the start of the year. On Sunday, the White House approved California's request to declare a federal emergency. Pastor Alan Cross of Petaluma Valley Baptist Church told CBN News that churches are working to support their communities in this time of need.  CROSS: “I think the main thing is just praying for people, to be aware of their neighbors, and to have compassion. That really is the role of the church, is to see people in need, connecting with others, and being the refuge where we can join hands together as a community.” 200 homicides in Washington D.C. And finally, Washington, D.C. is facing record high gun violence. For the second year in a row, the nation's capital has recorded over 200 homicides. Activists with Anacostia Coordinating Council are pushing a new campaign to stem the tide of violence. And no, it's not all about gun control. Instead, the group wants to put up posters with the Bible's Sixth Commandment -- “You shall not murder” -- throughout the city. The group's executive director, Philip Pannell, explained the campaign builds on the past.  He said, “Around 30 years ago, at the height of the crack epidemic, when we were also experiencing violence and homicides, then at-large Council member William Lightfoot printed-up some ‘Thou shalt not kill' posters and put them throughout the city.” The office of D.C. Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser will even provide 1,000 of the posters. Genesis 9:6 says, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in His own image.” Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Thursday, January 12th in the year of our Lord 2023. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Brad Jones, NFIB Missouri Small Business Association talking about Optimism Index rose 0.6 points in November and the importance of small business.  

NFIB State Director Brad Jones joins Tom Ackerman and Carol Daniel to discuss a continual rise in NFIB Small Business Optimism index, the falling stock markets and economy. 

Rob Friesen and Dave Singh discuss Odds, trading setups and considerations for the week of November 8. In this show, we cover Small Business Optimism Index, Producer Price Indices, Unemployment claim expectations, how the Thursday holiday affects the markets, recent S&P vs. DOW vs. Russell vs. NASDAQ futures performance, Elon Musk's intention to sell TSLA shares and its affect on other ETFs like XLY, as well as performance expectations for S&P sectors such as XLK, XLF, XLY and more. Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this video belong solely to the contributor(s). All future returns are hypothetical as market conditions can and do change. There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading. There is Risk of Loss. Past results are not indicative of future returns. StockOdds, Inc., its associates and contributors assume no responsibilities for your trading and investment results. The indicators, strategies, and all other information is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Affiliates, partners, and principals of StockOdds, Inc. may have a position for or against, or effect transactions in the securities described herein (or options thereon) and/or otherwise employ trading strategies that may be consistent or inconsistent with the provided strategies.

In this week's episode, KBRA Chief Strategist Van Hesser discusses: 1. The markets' obsession with inflation continues unabated. We've gathered three distinctly different views from three high-profile sources along with our own and will let you decide where you stand. 2. The NFIB's Small Business Optimism Index is out for the month of May is out, and the expectations component surprised us. 3. Dust off your LBO models! These credit-impairing transactions are back, with the largest deal announced since the GFC, a $34 bn management buyout for privately held Medline. While LBOs are never good for creditors, event risk just might not be as bad in this cycle. We'll explain.

Make no mistake, there are a lot of positives in this economy — vaccinations continue, shops and attractions are reopening, consumer spending is strong. The Small Business Optimism Index from the National Federation of Independent Business had a small uptick in April, but it’s still at a pretty depressed level compared to pre-pandemic times. On today’s show: Why small-business owners’ outlook is “surprisingly glum.” Plus, Simon Property Group is betting on its tenants, Broadway is coming back and food commodities are getting pricier.

Make no mistake, there are a lot of positives in this economy — vaccinations continue, shops and attractions are reopening, consumer spending is strong. The Small Business Optimism Index from the National Federation of Independent Business had a small uptick in April, but it’s still at a pretty depressed level compared to pre-pandemic times. On today’s show: Why small-business owners’ outlook is “surprisingly glum.” Plus, Simon Property Group is betting on its tenants, Broadway is coming back and food commodities are getting pricier. Donations from listeners power our nonprofit news. Your gift will support the journalism that keeps you and thousands of others informed every day. Become a Marketplace Investor: marketplace.org/donate

The “Money Talks” hosts cover earnings reports, unemployment and the Small Business Optimism Index.

This week on “Money Talks,” the hosts discuss the week’s earnings reports, unemployment, and the Small Business Optimism Index. The financial Experts lead a discussion on a unique opportunity that 2020 brings—the ability to roll what would have been a 2020 RMD into a Roth IRA. They also cover the nuances of this move as well as why it may be beneficial to some investors. The hosts round out the show answering listeners’ questions on why the Dow rallies on speculation of a COVID vaccine and Chinese plastics producer Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Company Ltd.

This week on “Money Talks,” the hosts discuss the week’s earnings reports, unemployment, and the Small Business Optimism Index. The financial Experts lead a discussion on a unique opportunity that 2020 brings—the ability to roll what would have been a 2020 RMD into a Roth IRA. They also cover the nuances of this move as well as why it may be beneficial to some investors. The hosts round out the show answering listeners’ questions on why the Dow rallies on speculation of a COVID vaccine and Chinese plastics producer Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Company Ltd.

The “Money Talks” hosts cover earnings reports, unemployment and the Small Business Optimism Index.

Adviser Investments Senior Vice President Chris Keith has the market analysis for Tuesday, June 11. After starting with intraday gains, major U.S. indexes broke their five-day winning streak to close with fractional losses. Meanwhile, despite ongoing tariff negotiations, May’s Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.5 points, topping expectations and reaching a six-month high. We also saw the House Judiciary Committee kick off antitrust hearings related to big technology companies like Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google.

Adviser Investments’ Chief Investment Officer Jim Lowell has the market analysis for Tuesday, April 9. Major U.S. stock indexes declined as investors reacted to global concerns related to a potential trade war between the U.S. and E.U. as well as the International Monetary Fund’s 2019 forecast downgrade. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.7% and both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ dropped 0.6%. In terms of economic data, the Small Business Optimism Index rose slightly for the third month in a row, remaining at elevated levels even as small businesses report difficulty finding skilled workers. Meanwhile, the Labor Department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey indicated that job openings decreased in February at the fastest pace since 2015. That figure continues to exceed the number of unemployed workers, and the quits rate remained at 2.3% for the ninth consecutive month as employees demonstrate optimism about finding a new or better-paying job.

Adviser Investments’ Chief Investment Officer Jim Lowell has the market analysis for Tuesday, December 11. Major U.S. stock indexes saw mixed results today. After a 500-point intra-day swing, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.2%, the S&P 500 posted fractional losses and the NASDAQ gained 0.2%. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ reported that seasonally adjusted Producer Price Index for final demand rose 0.1% from October to November, versus the 0.6% gain seen the previous month. The National Federation of Independent Business’ Small Business Optimism Index revealed a 2.6 point-drop from October. This is the third consecutive month of declines and the lowest level seen since April 2018; however, November’s 104.8 reading remains historically elevated and continues to reflect small business confidence.

David Mastroianni, strategic account executive at Adviser Investments, has the market analysis for Tuesday, August 14. Major U.S. stock indexes advanced, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite gaining 0.5%, 0.6% and 0.7%, respectively. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported quarterly household debt data, revealing a 3.5% increase—up to a new record of $13.3 trillion—as well as declining student loan delinquency rates. Meanwhile, the National Federation of Independent Business released its Small Business Optimism Index, which reached its second-highest level in the survey’s 45-year history. On the earnings front, Home Depot closed the day down 0.5% despite exceeding both earnings and revenue expectations and raising its full-year outlook.

Kevin Shivers, National Federation of Independent Businesses Pennsylvania Executive State Director, talks to Frank Andrews about the small business optimism index going up in 2017.

So far it's been a pretty light week but what little economic data that has been released is bad, and all of it evidences the recession that nobody wants to acknowledge Let's start with the Consumer Credit numbers that came out on Monday.  Not only was the number extremely weak, but the revisions to the prior month were even weaker The initial report for the growth in consumer credit in December was $21.3 billion Now I don't think growth in consumer credit is good; I think it undermines long-term living standards The last thing you want to do is borrow money to consume, one of the points I really hammered home in my book, "How an Economy Grows and Why it Crashes" If you haven't bought that book, you should get a copy Be sure to pick the collector's edition because, in addition to being a really beautiful book, it has two entirely new chapters.  If you already have the original one, buy the collector's edition and give the original away to a friend. Consumers should not borrow to consume.  They should save to consume. Businesses should use our savings to invest in capital equipment to grow the economy When you consume savings, you undermine long-term economic growth and therefore future consumption is diminished The problem is we're living in a bubble, and in order to sustain this bubble economy, consumers have to keep spending In this economy, however in order to keep spending they have to keep borrowing because they're certainly not earning, and they don't have any savings  This has to blow up eventually but right now, it's all about keeping the music going Consumer credit was revised down from the originally reported $21.3 billion to just $6.4 billion of growth They were looking for January to grow by $16.5 billion, and of course, this also includes student loans, as well as credit cards Instead, we got an increase of just $10.5 billion Consumer credit growth imploded in December and January If there's all this job creation why aren't these newly-employed people spending money? This shows you the jobs are going to people who already have part-time jobs, and need to supplement hours and wages Also, we got the Small Business Optimism Index, which last month was 93.9, and there was an expectation that it would increase to 94.2, that small businesses would be a little more optimistic, yet it dropped a full point to 92.9 - the lowest level in 2 years If that is the case, why are they hiring people? The type of hiring that is going on is hiring part time workers to replace full-time workers Which brings me to the data that came out today: Wholesale Trade Inventories were expected to drop, but they increased by .3% And the inventory for December was revised from -.1 to unchanged The reason inventories spiked is because sales collapsed The inventory to sales ratio just hit a new high, at 1.35 This is a 7-year high. The last time the inventory to sales ratio was this high was in April of 2009.  We were still knee-deep in the Great Recession If this recovery even exists, why isn't the merchandise being bought? At some point this year, the lone remaining bright spot in this horrible economic landscape - the number of jobs being created - will turn down We got more disappointing corporate earnings news this week The reason the stock market is moving slightly up is because of the sentiment that the Fed will not raise rates in the near future It's not just the stock market - Oil is above $38/barrel Also some of the industrial metals have had huge spikes And of course, the dollar is going down against other currencies The Australian dollar hit an 8- month high The Canadian dollar hit a 4-month high The New Zealand dollar was also at an 8-month high until the Reserve Bank of New Zealand surprised the markets and cut interest rates from 2.5% to 2.25% and that sent the New Zealand dollar tanking from +1% to -1.5% One of the reasons the Reserve Bank gave was that in...

HOUR 1BUSINESS RISK MANAGEMENT – Venders, contractor, and suppliers pose a threat to your business.  Chris Pobieglo talks about the potential problems and solutions.  Questions or comments email David@GDTB.Biz. EMPIRE OF WEALTH Andrew Carnegie served as Superintendent of the Military Railways and the Union Government's telegraph lines in the East during the Civil War.  .He was the right man for the right job.  Questions or comments email David@GDTB.Biz. HOUR 2Justin Ong talks about Microsoft’s 365 and how these cloud tools can help your small business.  Questions or comments email David@GDTB.Biz. in the news NFIB: OPTIMISM IMPROVES, BUT DON'T GET TOO EXCITEDConfidence Up in April, but Washington continues to create uncertaintyApril’s Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.8 points to a post-recession high of 95.2.  The economy continues to perform modestly, and April’s index followed suit as it crossed the 95 marker for the first time since 2007.  Read the entire story by going to the Getting Down to Business® Facebookpage. 

HOUR 1Connect Key Segment with Michael Ferris, Document Management talking about mobile printing you’re your devices.  Questions or comments email David@GDTB.Biz. EMPIRE OF WEALTHThe national economy exploded in size after the Civil War; however, monetary policy and banking regulations did not keep pace.  While the American Economy became the largest in the world during this period, it did not have a central bank.  JP Morgan filled the banking vacuum.  Questions or comments email David@GDTB.Biz. HOUR 2Spokane Turbine Center is a non-profit organization with a for-profit business as a wholly owned subsidiary.  Listen to Dennis Elrod their CEO tell us their story.  Questions or comments email David@GDTB.Biz. in the newsNFIB: SMALL-BUSINESS OWNER ROLLER COASTER CONTINUESAfter February’s Decline, Confidence Up in MarchThe latest Small Business Optimism Index rose 2 points to 93.4, mostly reversing the February decline but failing once again to breach the 95 ceiling that has capped the Index during the recovery.  TheGetting Down to Business® Facebookpage will contain a link to this and other related articles.

PROGRAM TOPIC Jon Snare returns to discuss the economy with Dave.  Listen as Jon describes where we are at economically and his insights into where we are headed.  Great look into the background of a small business startup.  For more visit www.Wellsfargo.com. EMPIRE OF WEALTH Matthias Baldwin Locomotive Builder (1795-1866) How did a successful jewelry and silverware smith become an impact player in the railroad business?  Baldwin turned a hobby into a major manufacturer of railroad locomotives.  Listen as Dave tells Baldwin’s entrepreneurial story.  Questions or comments email David@GDTB. Biz. IN THE NEWS Small-Business Confidence Sputters, AgainAfter Gains in April and May, Index “Gives Up” in JuneSmall-business optimism remained in tepid territory in June as NFIB’s monthly economic Index dropped just under a point (0.9) and landed at 93.5, effectively ending any hope of a revival in confidence among job creators.  Listen as Dave reviews NFIB’s “Small Business Optimism Index”.  Link to the National Federation of Independent Business’s article visit Getting Down to Business® on Facebook. BUSINESS RISK MANAGEMENT Chris Pobieglo, risk management expert, discusses “Price vs. Coverage” when looking for business insurance coverage.  For more information visit www.BusinessInsuranceAssociates.com. LISTEN EVERY SATURDAYS Getting Down to Business® with David Weatherholt show Saturday’s 8-10 am (AKDT) Fox News Talk KOAN 95.5 FM & AM 1020 – Stream:www.foxnewskoan.com In Anchorage, Alaska.  In Spokane, Washington listens to MoneyTalk 1230 AM KSBN from 9-11 am.  Like us on Facebook, join me on LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter at Waconsult. 

- Holly Wade, Senior Policy Analyst for the National Federation Of Independent Business - Please call 1-800-388-9700 for a free review of your financial portfolio

Getting Down to Business® with David Weatherholt Broadcast Saturday’s 9-10 am (AKDT) Fox News Talk KOAN 95.50 FM & AM 1020 - Stream: www.1020koan.com/or www.waconsult.com.  Join Getting Down to Business® on Facebook or join Dave’s LinkedIn group and follow Dave on Twitter at WAConsult.IN THE NEWSAfter Six Months of Increases, Small-Business Optimism Drops For Main Street, No New Jobs in the Months to Come:After six months of gains, the Small-Business Optimism Index fell by almost 2 points in March, settling at 92.5.  Listen as Dave summarizes this important small business indicator.  Read the full report at @ WaConsult.com, in the Getting Down to Business® section under the “News” heading.PROGRAM TOPICOn august 16, 1896 George Washington Carmack discovered a large gold nugget on the Klondike River.  This set in motion one of the most frenzied and gabled gold rushes in history.  Seattle companies became the source for purchasing your “outfit” and to arrange passage to Alaska and the Yukon.  This established the critical logistics link between Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.  Listen as Karen Matthias discusses the importance of this link not only to Alaska but also Tacoma, Washington.  Get more information @ www.portoftacoma.com. BUSINESS RISK MANAGEMENTChris Pobieglo, Business Insurance Expert describes the importance of reading all business contracts and ways to insure against some of the inherent risks.  Find out more by visiting www.businessinsuranceassociates.com.   

Getting Down to Business® with David Weatherholt Broadcast Saturday’s 9-10 am (AKDT) Fox News Talk 95.50 FM & AM 1020 KOAN Anchorage - Stream: www.1020koan.com/or www.waconsult.com.  Join Getting Down to Business® on Facebook or join Dave’s LinkedIn group and follow Dave on Twitter at WAConsult. IN THE NEWSHistorically Low Business Confidence Begins to Edge Up, Ever so Slightly: Main Street Still Cautious About the The Small-Business Optimism Index gained 0.4 points in February to 94.3 marking the sixth consecutive month of gains.  While still historically low, the latest increase is a sign that the recovery is likely to continue albeit at a glacial pace.  Read the complete report @ www.WaConsult.com. PROGRAM TOPICAnchorage’s Mayor Dan Sullivan visits GDTB® on St. Patrick’s Day.  The Mayor last visited us in November 2009 at the beginning of his term providing his vision for Anchorage.  Listen as Mayor Sullivan discusses his administrations achievements.  Podcast link to Mayor Sullivan’s first visit to GDTB® “Municipal Government & Small Business”. BUSINESS RISK MANAGEMENT Chris Pobieglo small business risk management expert tackles “Workers’ Compensation Assignments” making the complex simply.  Listen as Chris describes the “Risk Pool” and how that can impact the price you pay.  Get more Information @ www.BusinessInsuranceAssociates.com.

PROGRAMGetting Down to Business® with David Weatherholt Broadcast Saturday’s 9-10 am (AKDT) 95.50 FM & AM 1020 KOAN Anchorage - Stream: www.1020koan.com/or www.waconsult.com.  Join Getting Down to Business® on Facebook or join Dave’s LinkedIn group and follow Dave on Twitter at WAConsult. IN THE NEWSSmall Business Optimism Index Continues Downward Trajectory: Fifth Consecutive Month of DeclineFor the fifth consecutive month the NFIB’s monthly Small-Business Optimism Index fell.  Dropping 0.9 points in July—a larger decline than in each of the previous three months.  Listen as Dave discusses the components of the “Index”.  Read the whole article at www.WaConsult.com. PROGRAM TOPICTorrie Allen an accomplished opera singer talks about his passion and the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the Anchorage Opera.  Listen to Torrie’s fascinating story.  Visit anchorage Opera’s at www.anchorageopera.org. BUSINESS RISK MANAGEMENTChris Pobieglo, President of Business Insurance Associates, Inc discusses the nuances of “Commercial Property Coverage”.  Listen as Chris brings his topic to life.  For more information visit: www.BusinessInsuranceAssociates.com.      

PROGRAMGetting Down to Business® with David Weatherholt Broadcast Saturday’s 9-10 am (AKDT) 95.50 FM & AM 1020 KOAN Anchorage Stream: www.1020koan.com/or www.waconsult.com.  Join Getting Down to Business® on Facebook or follow Dave on Twitter at WAConsult. IN THE NEWSMain Street Desperately in Search of Reasons to be PositiveNFIB’s monthly Small-Business Optimism Index dropped one tenth of a point (0.1) in June, settling at 90.8, an unsurprising reading, unchanged from the previous month and solidly in recession territory.  Read Full Article @ www.WaConsult.com Techniques are not tools and Customer Relations Management (CRM) software is a tool to help your sales staff to be more effective.  Back when I first started in sales (sold printing for 18 years) we used 3’ x 5’ Client cards, Daily sales sheets and Weekly sales forms a manual system designed to track contacts with customers and potential customers.  CRM automates the client tracking process and provides much more sales help.  Listen as Andre Horton a Microsoft Dynamics CRM consultant talks about CRM.  For more email Andre@sockeyeconsulting.com. BUSINESS RISK MANAGEMENTDo your employees use their personal or business autos during their work day?  If so you may need to have a commercial auto policy to minimize your risk.  Listen as Chris Pobeiglo, President of Business Insurance Associates talks about commercial auto insurance and find out why your company may need this coverage.  For more visit Chris @ www.BusinessInsuranceAssociates.com.

PROGRAM Getting Down to Business® with David Weatherholt Broadcast Saturday’s 9-10 am (AKDT) 95.50 FM & AM 1020 KOAN Anchorage – AM 1330 KXLJ Juneau Stream: www.1020koan.com/or www.waconsult.com. Join Getting Down to Business® on Facebook or follow Dave on Twitter at WAConsult.   IN THE NEWS Consumer Spending Remains Weak: Small Business Optimism Dips Lower in May. For the third consecutive month, NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index fell.  While the drop was slight—.3 points, with the index settling at 90.9 in May.  The index makes clear that optimism is moving in the wrong direction.  The NFIB Research Foundation has collected Small Business Economic Trends data with quarterly surveys since 1974 and monthly surveys since 1986.  Survey respondents are drawn from NFIB's membership.  Read Full Article @ www.WaConsult.com   TOPIC The Seattle economy tanked in the early 1970’s due to a severe economic downturn at Boeing.  Thousands of people lost their jobs and an amusing billboard said “Will the last person leaving SEATTLE – Turn out the lights.”  This served as a wakeup call to community leaders and a focus on economic diversity.  The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) is leading the way on a project to make Anchorage the number one place to “Work, Live & Play by 2025.  Listen as Bill Popp, President and CEO describes the role and steps his organization is taking to make this a reality.  Find out more by visiting www.AEDCweb.com.     BUSINESS RISK MANAGEMENT Business insurance expert Chris Pobieglo tells us about the risk to your business when employees travel both domestically and internationally.  As a business owner you really don’t need another risk to consider however, Chris also provides some low cost ways to cover this risk.  Visit Chris Pobielgo, President of Business Insurance Associates @ www.BusinessInsuranceAssociates.com.