SmallBusinessNewz

Small Businesses Still Hesitant When It Comes To Hiring

The economy still seems to be affecting small businesses - especially when it comes to growth and the hiring of new employees.According to the CBIZ Small Business Emplyoment Index (SBEI), a barometer for hiring trends, October saw a decrease in hiring among companies with 300 employees or fewer.  In October, the index fell 1.28%, after already falling .81% in September.

Banks Pledge Increase in Small Business Lending

On Tuesday in Cleveland Ohio, Vice President Joe Biden announced a partnership between 13 banks to increase small business lending over the next three years.The 13 banks have committed to a combined $20 billion increase to small business lending.  The largest player in the pledge is Citigroup, who said that they plan to loan small businesses $8 billion next year - up from $6 billion in loans they made last year and $4.5 billion they made in 2009. 

Small Business Administration Takes Its Ideas To Washington

The economy is on everyone's mind these days, and the implications of every economic decision are important to all, none more so than small business owners.This week, the Small Business Administration took to Washington to present some ideas to the White House about entrepreneurship and business growth. 

Businesses Acquiring Funding, Yet Optimism Still Declines

The latest business feedback survey from the National Small Business Association comes as the stock market has one of its worst days in recent memory. U.S. stocks took a dive today in the biggest drop since the 2008 financial crisis.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped over 500 points as investors lose faith in both the American and European economies.  This huge drop today is the culmination of a terrible few weeks on Wall Street.  People are worried about the economy. 

Various Reports Send Mixed Signals About The Economy

As Washington seems to be stalled in their talks about raising the national debt ceiling, a couple of new reports shed a glimmer of hope on the U.S. economy.Breaking a string of poor economic news that included the statistic that unemployment rose slightly in June from 9.1% to 9.2%, the U.S. Labor Department issued a somewhat optimistic report today.Of course, optimism needs to be taken with a grain of salt as the news is far from earth-shattering. 

More U.S. Workers Dissatisfied With Their Jobs

If you turn on the television, radio, or pick up a newspaper these days it is likely that you will see or hear something about the state of jobs in America.  Whether it is party bickering about what particular methods actually create more jobs or economists forecasting the slowing growth of new jobs, employment is a hot topic.And it's no surprise that some people are frustrated when politicians deviate from their "jobs, jobs, jobs" platform.  In May, the national unemployment rate hit 9.1%. 

U.S. Government Targets Small Businesses That Hire Illegal Immigrants

The U.S. government is worried about businesses that knowingly employ illegal immigrants and is taking strong measures to crack down on the practice. 

Consumer Sentiment Reaches Three-Year High

Consumer confidence rose to its highest level in three years in February, driven by higher income households according to the Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index.

Employment Confidence Up In January

The Conference Board said today its employment trends index increased in January for the fourth straight month.  The index now stands at 100.5, up from December's revised figure of 100.3. The index is up 7 percent from a year ago. "Despite anemic job gains in January, the Employment Trends Index suggests that employment growth is poised to accelerate,” said Gad Levanon, Associate Director, Macroeconomic Research at The Conference Board.

Report Examines Small Business Economy Of 2009

The U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of the Advocacy has released a report on the challenging economic conditions of 2009 that found by the end of the year, small businesses found room for optimism.“In the beginning of 2009 many small businesses felt as if they were at the brink, not knowing how or if they would survive,” said Chief Counsel for Advocacy Winslow Sargeant.