Regional Scores

All Regions Move Up, With Northeast Showing Biggest Jump

National Score 70.5

• Northeast (73.7)

  The Index score in the Northeast shows the largest increase among all regions. Around four in five Northeastern small businesses report good business health (78%) and comfort with cash flow (83%), both up significantly from last quarter (69% and 63%, respectively). Similarly, more say that they have increased their staff in the past year (22% vs. 13%). However, just 34% plan to increase staff in the next year, down from Q2 (43%).

• Midwest (72.1)

  Two in five (42%) Midwestern small businesses now report that their local economy is in good health, up nine percentage points from last quarter (33%). Three in four say their business is in good health (76%) and that they are comfortable with their cash flow (77%), both slight but not significant increases from Q2. Other measures in the Midwest are more stable from last quarter.

• South (70.5)

  Seventy-three percent of Southern small businesses report that their business is in good health, and 70% say they are comfortable with their cash flow, both in line with last quarter. One in three feel that the local economy is in good health, and 24% say the same of the national economy. This quarter represented a significant change in compliance requirements, with 29% reporting increased time spent on compliance, down eight percentage points from Q2 (37%).

• West (66.8)

  The Index score in the West shows the smallest increase among all regions. About three in five say their business is currently in good health (61%) and that they are comfortable with their cash flow (63%), both significantly lower than all other regions. Twenty-eight percent are seeing more competition from local businesses, a nine-percentage point drop from Q2 (37%).