Month: January 2019

A Q4 MetLife and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index released in December reflected general optimism from the small business community about the economy.

Optimism on the health of the national economy has continuously increased since the second quarter and is at a new high with 58 percent of small business owners believing the U.S. economy is in good health, the Chamber said. 

Optimism on the local economy also improved this quarter to 56 percent of small business owners noting their local economy as good, up six points from he third quarter 2018.

“Small businesses are the growth engine of the American economy, employing half of the nation’s private sector workforce,” stated Jessica Moser, senior vice president, Small Business Solutions in MetLife’s Group Benefits business. “The owners of those businesses make crucial decisions about expansion and hiring every day, so their level of optimism is a good indicator of future growth. The findings of this quarter’s Index show they are still bullish, which bodes well for our economy as a whole.”

As 2018 drew to a close, the Brewers Association—a nonprofit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers—said that while the brewing landscape is shifting, small and independent breweries continue to find market success.

Julia Herz, craft beer program director for the Brewers Association which represents more than 4,800 U.S. breweries, said brewers are “finding ways to differentiate themselves in a competitive market, become pillars of communities, and embrace new experiences and occasions to connect with beer lovers.”

A report by the association covered a variety of topics as it looked back at 2018.