Optimism Among Small-Business Owners Fell in March
Optimism among small-business owners took a dive last month as expectations for their companies' sales and the economy fell, according to a new survey.
National Federation of Independent Business
Stocks Slide from Near 5-Year Highs, and Investors Wait for Earnings
Stocks slumped Tuesday on Wall Street after the International Monetary Fund predicted weaker world economic growth and as investors waited for what they expected to be lower corporate earnings.
Small Business Owners Get More Upbeat on Post-Election Outlook
Small business owners are getting a little more optimistic about how their companies will do after the election, according to a survey released Tuesday by the National Federation of Independent Business.
Key Health Care Reform Foe May Soon Be a Customer
Supporters of President Obama's health care reform laws got a major boost when a key opponent lost her business. Mary Brown, whose whose standing to sue is integral to the largest lawsuit against Obama's health care reforms, may be forced to abandon her legal challenge.
Starbucks Takes on U.S. Jobs Woes with Loans, Bracelets
On Tuesday, Starbucks launched "Create Jobs for USA," a program to raise loan funds for small businesses. We talked to CEO Howard Schultz about his concerns about gridlock in Washington, unemployment, the need for a sense of solidarity, and the role of corporate leaders in getting America out of this downturn.
Small Businesses Felt More Upbeat About Economy in May
Not unlike bears emerging from hibernation after a long winter, the nation's small businesses are slowly becoming more optimistic in the prospects for the U.S. economy as the Great Recession winds down. Still, entrepreneurs aren't yet ready to hire more workers or boost spending on new projects, according to a survey released Tuesday.
Freelance Nation: Why Good Jobs May Not Come Back
Many of the jobs that have been lost in the recession are unlikely to come back. Those that do are more likely to be freelance, temporary or contract positions rather than permanent jobs with benefits. Technology, off-shoring and the disappearance of bubble-era jobs are all to blame.
