Main Street Monday: NFIB Says Small Biz Optimism OK
March 16, 2026
Bob Coleman
Founder & Publisher
Main Street Monday: NFIB Says Small Biz Optimism OK
When asked to evaluate the overall health of their business in February, NFIB says 15% rated their small business as excellent, 55% as good, 26% as fair, and 5% as poor.
“Although optimism declined slightly, small businesses report feeling more certain in February as they look toward the coming months,” says NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “High sales and increased profits made February a more positive month for many owners, but competition from large businesses is putting stress on Main Street firms as they navigate the current economic climate.”
Capital Needs
54% had capital outlays in the last six months
- 37% new equipment
- 28% vehicles
- 15% improved or expanded facilities
- 10% furniture & fixtures
- 5% new building or land for expansion.
Credit
5% reported their last loan was harder to get than in previous attempts
The average interest rate paid on short-maturity loans was 8.2% (Prime + 1.45) in February, down 0.9 percentage points from January.
Twenty-five percent of all owners reported borrowing regularly, unchanged from January.
