Aloha State News

The latest Small Business Optimism Index from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) suggests a positive shift in small business sentiment. The index shows a significant rise, with the net percentage of owners expecting economic improvement increasing by 16 points since November to reach a net 52%, marking the highest level since late 1983.

Furthermore, the proportion of small business owners who believe it is an opportune time to expand their operations has increased by six points to 20%, the highest figure recorded since February 2020.

Michael Iosua, NFIB's state director for Hawaii, remarked on this development: “Good news for small business owners has been a long time coming, consistently good news even longer.” He emphasized that Hawaii’s lawmakers have an opportunity to bolster this optimistic outlook by reducing regulatory burdens on businesses.

Bill Dunkelberg, NFIB's Chief Economist, noted that optimism among small business owners continues to grow due to improved economic prospects following recent elections. He stated, "Small business owners feel more certain and hopeful about the economic agenda of the new administration."

Key findings from the latest index include:

- A net increase of 16 points in owner expectations for economic improvement.

- A six-point rise in those seeing it as a good time for business expansion.

- An eight-point increase in expectations for higher real sales volumes.

- A five-point uptick in planned inventory investments.

For ongoing updates on Hawaii's small-business landscape, individuals can visit www.nfib.com or follow NFIB Hawaii on social media platforms.

The NFIB has been advocating for America's small and independent businesses for over 80 years. As a nonprofit and nonpartisan association founded in 1943, it remains dedicated to supporting these enterprises nationwide.