D&B’s Small Business Health Index declined nearly 2 points in May 2013, revealing continued challenges for the small business sector. The across-the-board decline brought the monthly Index below May 2012 levels, and marked the third consecutive decrease since March 2013.
Global Lehigh Strategic Initiatives (without descriptions)
D&B Small Business Health Index (July 2013)
1. What’s driving the US
small business sector?
DB Small Business Health Index
DB’s Small Business Health Index declined nearly 2 points
in May 2013, revealing continued challenges for the small
business sector.The across-the-board decline brought the
monthly Index below May 2012 levels, and marked the third
consecutive decrease since March 2013. Business services
and retail were among the subsectors driving the decline,
although manufacturing and construction showed resilience.
Despite encouraging increases in jobs and industrial
production, the Index’s overall sluggishness likely results from
other factors, including tepid growth in the nation’s GDP,
consumer spending, and international trade. Ongoing cuts
in government spending arguably continue to block such
growth, and that could mean more choppy economic waters
for small businesses through the rest of 2013.
Small business failures, including bankruptcies and other
closures, persisted for the third consecutive month in May,
although the manufacturing sector bucked that trend.
Small business owners struggled to pay their bills on
time for the second consecutive month in May, indicating
continued setbacks with income growth and cost overruns.
July 2013
March 2013
Small Business Health Index: Overall
Source: DB Global Data, Insights Analytics
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
May 13Dec 10Dec 08Dec 06Dec 04
M
ay
1.6points
Credit Card Delinquency
Small Business Failures
140
145
150
155
160
May 2013Apr 2013Mar 2013Feb 2013
Payment Delinquency
Credit Card Utilization
80
95
110
125
140
May 2013Apr 2013Mar 2013Feb 2013
Credit Card Delinquency
Small Business Failures
140
145
150
155
160
May 2013Apr 2013Mar 2013Feb 2013
Payment Delinquency
Credit Card Utilization
80
95
110
125
140
May 2013Apr 2013Mar 2013Feb 2013
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