Despite current trends, small business confidence is growing – but sequencing is key: any new inflation will increase anxiety among business owners.

The Latest Forecast Weather for small business is a little sunnier this week, but those distant clouds look rough. What it means: Good news when the Federal Reserve did not raise interest rates this past week. Inflation is calming down, but employers are still plagued by anxiety caused by high prices and worker shortages. The storm clouds on the horizon are reflective of lower expectations for the year ahead. Listen: Tom Sullivan and National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)'s Holly Wade talk about their small business forecasts on a weekly podcast. Listen here.​ Explore key takeaways from the latest small business reports below. The next MetLife & U.S. Chamber Small Business Index release is Wednesday, June 28, 2023.