Resilient but Cautious: Small Businesses Moderate Growth Plans in Latest Index

Photo credit: Kampus Production via Pexels. CO by US Chamber of Commerce – April 09, 2026. Full report: Small Business Index Q1 2026.

Small businesses are healthy but cautious in Q1 2026, with inflation as the No. 1 concern and owners dialing back growth plans.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s latest Small Business Index, released April 7, 2026, reflects a cautious mood among America’s small business owners. The index slipped to 67.0 in Q1 2026, down from 68.4 last quarter and off the all-time high of 72.0 reached in Q3 2025. That said, the score remains comfortably above the 62.3 recorded a year ago, suggesting the pullback is a moderation rather than a reversal. […]

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