NFIB’s February Small Business Economic Trends report shows a slight decline of half a point in the Optimism Index, though the Index remains slightly above its historical average (6:12). Podcast co-hosts Holly Wade, NFIB Research Center Executive Director, and Peter Hansen, Director of Research and Policy Analysis, analyze gains in NFIB’s Small Business Employment Index, which shows a balanced labor market through the start of 2026 (9:30) 

Learn more about the February Small Business Economic Trends report and NFIB’s new Small Business Employment Index. 

Other highlights include: 

• Discussion of the NABE Policy Conference, where small business owners spoke about the tangible impacts of regulations on their business (0:05) 
• Price metrics (13:30) 
• Concern about poor sales as the single most important problem (19:40) 
• Signs health care is challenging small businesses right now (22:59)