Small Business By The Numbers
Small Business by the Numbers is the NFIB Research Center podcast where we discuss everything related to the small business economy. Co-hosts Holly Wade, the Executive Director of the NFIB Research Center, and Peter Hansen, Director of Research and Policy Analysis, will discuss data, stories, and the economic conditions affecting small businesses nationwide.
Small Business By The Numbers
Latest Episodes
Ep. 8: Small Business Optimism Remains Below Average but Stable
April’s Small Business Economic Trends data shows that optimism has leveled out from March’s sharp decline but remains below the historical average. As businesses continue to adjust to inflated fuel costs, small business owners’ expectations on...
Ep. 7: Small Business Optimism Falls in March
The March Small Business Economic Trends data is largely reflective of small business owners’ and consumers’ reactions to a dramatic spike in oil prices. Small business owners are having to absorb those higher input costs and pass them along to...
Ep. 6: February Data Shows Balanced Labor Market
NFIB’s February Small Business Economic Trends report shows a slight decline of half a point in the Optimism Index, though the Index remains slightly above its historical average (6:12). Podcast co-hosts Holly Wade, NFIB Research Center Executi...
Ep. 5: January Small Business Data and New Employment Index
NFIB’s January Small Business Economic Trends report reveals a steady start to 2026 with a modestly positive outlook for small businesses. Podcast co-hosts Holly Wade, NFIB Research Center Executive Director, and Peter Hansen, Director of Resea...
Bonus Episode: NFIB Launches New Employment Index
NFIB’s new Small Business Employment Index unifies several jobs-related metrics into one single measure of the small business labor market—essentially, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index but for jobs. This new index is constructed from ques...