The Small Business Optimism Index increased 6.2 points in June to 100.6 with eight of the 10 components improving and two declining. Owners anticipate improving sales as the economy continues to re-open with sales expectations rebounding to a net 13% after April’s lowest reading in survey history (a net negative 42%). Small business owners continue to […]
Economy
Revised Figures Show GDP Shrinking 5% in Q1
Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 5% in the first quarter of 2020, according to the “second” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter, real GDP increased 2.1 percent. The GDP estimate released today is based on more complete source data than were available for […]
Corporate Charitable Giving Jumped 13% in 2019
WASHINGTON— American charitable donations in 2019 marked the highest contributions ever, according to Giving USA. American individuals, foundations and corporations gave $450 billion to U.S. charities in 2019, up 4.2 percent from the previous year. Strong economic growth in 2019 made the past three years of charitable giving the highest on record. Total giving growth in 2019 […]
NJ Private Sector Added 92,200 Jobs in May, State DOL Says
Total nonfarm wage and salary employment in New Jersey increased by 86,800 in May to a seasonally adjusted level of 3,497,400, according to estimates produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This gain represents a little over 10 percent of the number of jobs lost in March and April due to the COVID-19 pandemic […]
FDIC Chairman: Banks a Source of Economic Strength in Q1
For the 5,116 commercial banks and savings institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), aggregate net income totaled $18.5 billion in first quarter 2020, a decline of $42.2 billion (69.6 percent) from a year ago. The decline in net income is a reflection of deteriorating economic activity, which resulted in the increase in […]