Could 26, 2023

Small and midsize companies’ confidence within the financial system is on the wane, based on the “Q2 2023 Important Road Index” launched this week by Cbiz Inc., a supplier of economic, insurance coverage and advisory providers. Staffing issues have been one fear.

The index fell to a studying of 60 factors this quarter from 68 factors within the final quarter.

A survey for the report discovered 51% of small and midsize companies have a damaging or impartial outlook on the financial system, and solely 49% reported a constructive or very constructive enterprise confidence over the following six months. As well as, greater than seven in 10 anticipated an extra downturn within the financial system.

“There’s a lagging impact to final yr’s rate of interest hikes,” Anna Rathbun, chief funding officer of CBIZ Funding Advisory Companies, mentioned in a press launch. “The most recent CBIZ Important Road Index exhibits the Fed’s actions, together with different elements, are beginning to open extra cracks within the basis of the financial system.”

The report mentioned 27% of respondents reported larger rates of interest have been impacting the funding wants of their companies, up from 17% within the first quarter.

Practically half of respondents to Cbiz’s survey, 48%, listed worker retention as a cease concern, up from 25% within the first-quarter report. The most recent survey additionally discovered that 56% are apprehensive about having sufficient expert staff on employees.

The survey for the present report included responses from 753 companies with fewer than 100 workers in 31 industries throughout the US. It came about from April 24 to Could 5.