William Dunkelberg
William Dunkelberg
caution rein
We're going to rein it in. Caution should be the watchword.
board business expansion fill job natural open owners people plans positions raising small struggling wages
Small business owners are raising wages to keep the people already on board and to make open positions more attractive. With many small firms struggling to fill job slots, it's natural to see expansion plans being put on hold.
signals solid start
The index signals a solid start to 2006.
data fourth indicate katrina strong survey third wrinkle
Katrina does put a wrinkle in the outlook. But the survey data indicate strong third and fourth quarters.
dollar economy employers employment fairly good holds increase net next percent period plan small three year
A net 17 percent of small employers plan to increase employment in the next three months, indicating that this year could be a fairly good period for manufacturing if the economy holds and the dollar weakens.
except hiring solid
Historically, except for the dot-com hiring binge, this is a very solid number.
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.
aggregate appears broad cheap consumer consumers eating front holding ordering seems spending
Consumer spending seems to be holding up in the aggregate figures, but it appears that consumers are 'shaving' spending on a broad front ? still eating out but ordering the cheap entrees,
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,
economy regarded speeds
The economy is slowing, but down to speeds previously regarded as 'too fast.'
extremely hiring labor last markets plans remain since
While hiring plans have softened since last year, labor markets remain extremely tight.
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.