William Dunkelberg
William Dunkelberg
except hiring solid
Historically, except for the dot-com hiring binge, this is a very solid number.
signals solid start
The index signals a solid start to 2006.
business clearly cuts expressed good news pleasure rate sector signs small
The small business sector is clearly slowing, but there are no signs of 'disorder' in the exiting, ... This is good news for the Fed, which expressed its pleasure by hinting at rate cuts if things slowed too quickly.
costs credit few harder interest large
Credit costs more but is no harder to get. And because interest costs are not particularly large for most firms, there are few complaints.
caught dollars music terrific
The 'tone' is terrific but the dollars haven't caught up with the music.
beyond far price reached
I won't say 'deflation,' but price paring was widespread. It reached far beyond manufacturing and agriculture.
crazy
It does not get much better (except in the crazy dot.com years).
allowed capital community consumer costs cut employee flat generate higher hold improve judicious line lower operating point reduce sales
Judicious capital investments have allowed the small-business community to cut operating costs to the point where many are able to hold the line on -- or reduce -- consumer costs, improve employee compensation, withstand flat or lower sales and still generate higher profits,
capital current five good healthier owners period spending strong time views
Capital spending (actual and planned) got healthier and one in five owners views the current period as a good time to expand, strong for this period in the cycle.
action frequency gains level reported sales shopping
Shopping action must have been heavy, as the frequency of reported sales gains jumped way up in November, to the third-highest level in all of '98.
backed bound cool degree ease economy general high main mountain optimism owners painting resting scenario street top view
Main Street optimism has backed down from the mountain top and is resting on a high plateau. The general view is that things have been going well for so long, they're bound to ease back a bit. Small-business owners aren't painting a doom-and-gloom scenario here. They just sense that the red-hot economy will cool by a degree or two.
auto crippling event growth indicate industry latest major next percent rate readings six strike survey
Barring a crippling auto industry strike or some other major event unforeseen in May, the latest survey readings indicate a growth rate of about 3 percent during the next six months,
attack expected gains next posting sales taken three widespread
to have taken the attack personally, posting widespread reductions in expected real sales gains over the next three months.
extremely hiring labor last markets plans remain since
While hiring plans have softened since last year, labor markets remain extremely tight.