Economic confidence among small business owners continued to fall in October as many expressed increased pessimism about both the future of their own businesses and the U.S. economy in general, according to the Discover(R) Small Business Watch(SM), a monthly survey of 1,000 small businesses with five or fewer employees.
Are you tough enough to be one of the 22 million Americans who run a small business? Can you or your employees afford to go without health care coverage? These are some of the characteristic features of many American entrepreneurs identified by the Discover (R) Small Business Watch (SM) in a year's worth of polling the nation's small business owners who have five or fewer employees.
The COUNTRY Financial Security Index continued it's upward swing in October, rising 1.3 points to 69.9, as Americans felt more confident in nearly all aspects of their financial security.
After taking a huge hit in August, worker confidence in Dallas began to recover in September, as the group’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) rose 4.4 points to 113.5. An increase in expected hiring and fewer anticipated layoffs contributed to the up-tick. The city’s latest Index is one point higher than last September’s score of 112.5. The national Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers, dropped for the second month in a row, falling 2.1 points in September to 97.1.
For the second month in a row, confidence among workers in the Windy City rose as the city’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) jumped 7.2 points to 93.7 in September. Virtually all factors that impact the reading saw movement. This month’s reading is in line with last September’s, when it registered 94.5. The national Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, dropped for the second month in a row, falling 2.1 points in September to 97.1.
The Hudson Employment Index (SM) for Minneapolis-St. Paul fell 7.5 points to 95.1 in September. The Index for this group has tumbled more than 14 points in the past two months. September’s drop was largely a result of worsened sentiments about personal finances, less expected hiring and an increase in anticipated layoffs. The Twin Cities’ latest reading is in line with last September’s reading of 94.9. The national Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, dropped for the second month in a row, falling 2.1 points in September to 97.1.
The Hudson Employment Index (SM) for Philadelphia slipped 1.4 points to 91.1 in September, marking the fifth consecutive decline for the city. Steadily growing expectations for job cuts contributed to the Index’s downfall. Philadelphia’s latest reading is less than two points stronger than the 89.4 registered at the same time last year. The national Index based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, declined for the second consecutive month in September, falling 2.1 points to 97.1.
Worker confidence continued declining in September, as Tampa’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) dropped another 3.6 points to 84.6. The city’s measure of worker sentiment has been falling on a monthly basis since the start of the year, when it was 119.9. Tampa’s Index registered 115.5 last September. The national Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, declined for the second consecutive month in September, falling 2.1 points to 97.1.
Worker confidence in Pennsylvania fell for the third consecutive month in September. The state’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) dropped 2.4 points to 99.6. Climbing expectations around job cuts largely contributed to the latest decline. However, the state’s measure of worker confidence is in line with last September, when it registered 98.8. The national Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across the country, declined for the second consecutive month in September, falling 2.1 points to 97.1.
Workers in Texas were more confident in September, as the state’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) inched up 1.8 points to 126.2. The latest reading falls just below last September’s reading of 127.7. The national Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across the country, declined for the second consecutive month in September, falling 2.1 points to 97.1.
Worker confidence weakened among both Hispanic and African-Americans workers in September. The monthly Hudson Employment Index (SM) for Hispanics edged down 1.4 points to register 91.6, while the reading for African-Americans slid 4.7 points to 88.5. The composite Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across all races and ethnicities, dropped for the second consecutive month, falling 2.1 points in September to 97.1.
The Hudson Employment Index (SM) for Atlanta remained virtually unchanged since August, inching up .7 points to 103.1. Increased job satisfaction was offset by less expected hiring. Atlanta’s latest reading is dramatically lower than last September’s reading of 118.6. The national Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers, dropped for the second month in a row, falling 2.1 points in September to 97.1.
Following a near record high in August, Ohio workers were significantly less optimistic in September, as the state’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) dropped 9.9 points to 99.7. Declines in all contributing factors influenced the fall. However, the latest reading is in line with last September, when it registered 100.1. The national Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across the country, declined for the second consecutive month in September, falling 2.1 points to 97.1.
Worker confidence held steady in Florida in September, as the state’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) inched down just .4 points to 93.9 points. Florida’s latest measure of worker confidence is more than 20 points lower than last September’s reading of 115.2. The national Index , based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across the country, declined for the second consecutive month in September, falling 2.1 points to 97.1.
Worker confidence weakened in Boston, as the city’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) fell 2.9 points to 93.3 in September. A decrease in hiring expectations drove the drop. However, Boston’s latest Index is 1.5 points higher than last September, when it registered 91.8. The national Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers, dropped for the second month in a row, falling 2.1 points in September to 97.1.
Confidence among accounting and finance workers continued to weaken, as the group’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) slid 1.2 points to 111.9 in September. The latest reading for this group, however, is 5.7 points higher than last September’s 106.2. The composite Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across all sectors, also dropped for the second month in a row, falling 2.1 points in September to 97.1.
Worker confidence took a large hit in September, as the legal sector’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) plummeted almost 20 points to 98.9. Worse financial sentiments and greater concern over job loss drove the decline. The group’s latest reading, however, is a point higher than this time last year, when the Index was 97.9. The composite Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across all sectors, dropped for the second month in a row, falling 2.1 points in September to 97.1.
New York City workers were noticeably less optimistic in September, as the city’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) decreased 5.6 points to 91.4. Finance concerns and less expected hiring contributed to the drop. Nevertheless, the latest reading comes in significantly higher than last September’s 84.4. The national Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers, declined for the second consecutive month in September, falling 2.1 points to 97.1.
Worker confidence held steady in DC in September, as the city’s Hudson Employment Index (SM) shifted down just .1 point to 107. The capital city’s latest reading is well below last September, when it registered 119.9. The national Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, declined for the second consecutive month in September, as the reading fell 2.1 points to 107.6.
The Hudson Employment Index (SM) for healthcare workers fell 4.6 points to 99.3 in September. The latest Index is also five points lower than last September’s reading of 104.3. The composite Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across all sectors, dropped for the second month in a row, falling 2.1 points in September to 97.1.
