By Christopher Haberli Published February 19, 2019 Small Business FOXBusiness Facebook Twitter Comments Print video Small business optimism hits lowest point since 2016 NFIB President Juanita Duggan on the state of small business in America. Optimism stemming from small business owners in America has reached a two-year low, according to the National Federation of Independent Business Optimism Index (NFIB), which was down 3.2 points in January. Continue Reading Below According to NFIB president Juanita Duggan the government shutdown “knocked the confidence” of small business owners. "This is the first month we had captured sentiment about the government shutdown," NFIB President Juanita Duggan told FOX Business’ Stuart Varney on Tuesday. "And, yes, predictably, the small business optimism index dropped." MORE FROM FOXBUSINESS.COM... VEGAN TOOTHPASTE PILL AIMS TO CUT PLASTICS IN LANDFILLS THIS BAKER … [Read more...] about Government shutdown ‘knocked the confidence’ of small business owners, NFIB president says
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Business groups say Cuomo’s prevailing wage plan a ‘death sentence’ for development
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo wants to change the state's prevailing wage mandate, expanding its requirements to include contractors doing work on projects receiving state funds. But critics said the change could raise construction labor costs by an estimated 20 percent and put a damper on development. The prevailing wage in Western New York is set by the State Department of Labor. It varies by job position and location, but usually mirrors the pay scale in collective bargaining agreements negotiated by trade unions. Contractors are already required to pay the prevailing wage on public works projects. But Cuomo said in his State of the State address Tuesday that he wants to expand the public works definition to include private-sector projects assisted by tax breaks from industrial development agencies. The Buffalo-Niagara Partnership was among 18 business groups that sent a letter to the governor last March asking him not to expand the prevailing wage requirements. Calling the … [Read more...] about Business groups say Cuomo’s prevailing wage plan a ‘death sentence’ for development
Colorado business community keeps watch on political blue wave
It looks as if the other shoe is about to drop for Colorado’s business community as Democrats have taken over the Legislature since their victories Nov. 6.Some quarters of commerce and industry are uneasy about what might come next — especially the state’s oil and gas industry, despite its success defeating a proposal on the November ballot that industry supporters say could have shut down drilling statewide.For the first time in four years, Democrats control both chambers of the Legislature and the Governor’s Office. The former Republican-led Senate stymied efforts to impose new mandates on business on behalf of employees. Ditto attempts to crack down on fracking and oil and gas exploration.Now business has lost that Republican buffer. Business leaders won’t publicly acknowledge a case of the jitters, however.The Colorado Business Roundtable is approaching the legislative session “with a sense of optimism, renewed purpose and a strong desire to work … [Read more...] about Colorado business community keeps watch on political blue wave
US economy is in ‘great shape’: Home Depot co-founder Marcus
By Henry Fernandez Published January 10, 2019 Business Leaders FOXBusiness Facebook Twitter Comments Print video The economy is in great shape: Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus on the partial government shutdown over funding for a border wall and the state of the U.S. economy. Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus touted President Trump’s pro-business policies for encouraging the creation of new jobs and record low unemployment rate as the latest sign of U.S. economic strength. Continue Reading Below “I would say from a standpoint of a businessman looking at it, nonpolitically, that the economy is in great shape,” Marcus told FOX Business’ Neil Cavuto on Wednesday. MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS.COM AMAZON'S JEFF BEZOS IS GETTING A DIVORCE AFTER 25 YEARS OF MARRIAGE AMERICA'S CHEESE PROBLEM JUST HIT RECORD NUMBERS TOYOTA RECALLS 1.3 MILLION VEHICLES IN THE US According … [Read more...] about US economy is in ‘great shape’: Home Depot co-founder Marcus
Small-business owners’ confidence in U.S. economy weakens
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By Maria Armental The Wall Street Journal Wed., Jan. 9, 2019 Small-business owners’ confidence in the U.S. economy fell for the fourth consecutive month and their outlook on business conditions fell to the lowest level since late 2016, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. The conservative-leaning small-business lobby said its optimism index fell to 104.4 in December from November’s 104.8 reading. Economists had expected a December reading of 103, according to a Wall Street Journal survey. The index had set a high of 108.8 in August, breaking a July 1983 record. The NFIB survey is a monthly snapshot of small businesses in the U.S., which account for about half of private-sector jobs. Economists look to the report for a read on domestic demand and to extrapolate hiring and wage trends in the broader economy. Article Continued Below The NFIB’s December survey results showed fewer respondents from a month earlier thought … [Read more...] about Small-business owners’ confidence in U.S. economy weakens