Despite all the economic doom and gloom, US small businesses are doing just fine 

It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that the economy is not doing well under the current administration.

Inflation is down, but Americans still feel an “affordability squeeze,” says Bloomberg. Fortune reports that an “E-shaped economy” shows a “growing divide between Americans.” CBS News states that the affordability crisis “continues to affect” many American households, especially when it comes to “food, housing, child care and health care.” Scripps reports that a quarter of U.S. households “struggle to cover basic expenses,” and according to the LA Times, there are “two Americas when it comes to the economy.” 

You would think that with all this discouraging news, our nation’s small businesses — consumers themselves, but who also employ almost half of workers and contribute nearly half of the country’s GDP — would also be suffering. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. The reality is that small businesses continue to profit and grow, despite the doom and gloom. 

For example, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, which for decades has published a closely watched index of small-business sentiment and optimism, reported that its index remains above its 52-year historical average, signaling strong confidence. The organization’s data found that many small businesses continue to perform well despite lingering economic uncertainty. 

Industry-level data indicate that a majority of small-business owners report stable or improving sales across sectors such as construction, manufacturing and professional services. Profit trends remain positive in many industries, and hiring demand continues as businesses expand operations. 

“While GDP is rising, small businesses are still waiting for noticeable economic........

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