The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased in March by 2.4 points to 93.2, the third consecutive month below the 48-year average of 98. Thirty-one percent of owners reported that inflation was the single most important problem in their business, up five points from February and the highest reading since the first quarter of 1981. Inflation has now replaced “labor quality” as the number one problem.

“Inflation has impacted small businesses throughout the country and is now their most important business problem,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “With inflation, an ongoing staffing shortage, and supply chain disruptions, small business owners remain pessimistic about their future business conditions.”

Key findings include:

• Owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months decreased 14 points to a net negative 49 percent, the lowest level recorded in the 48-year-old survey.
• Forty-seven percent of owners reported job openings that could not be filled, a decrease of one point from February.
• The net percent of owners raising average selling prices increased four points to a net 72 percent (seasonally adjusted), the highest reading in the survey’s history.

The net percent of owners raising average selling prices increased four points to a net 72 percent (seasonally adjusted), the highest reading recorded in the series. Unadjusted, three percent of owners reported lower average selling prices and 71 percent reported higher average prices.

Price hikes were the most frequent in wholesale (84 percent higher, 0 percent lower), construction (83 percent higher, 3 percent lower), agriculture (78 percent higher, 2 percent lower), and retail sales (77 percent higher, 2 percent lower). Seasonally adjusted, a net 50 percent of owners plan price hikes, up four points from February.

As reported in NFIB’s monthly jobs report, a net 20 percent of owners are planning to create new jobs in the next three months, up one point from February. The difficulty in filling open positions is particularly acute in the transportation, construction, and manufacturing sectors where many positions require skilled workers. Openings are lowest in the finance and agriculture sectors.

A net 49 percent (seasonally adjusted) reported raising compensation, down one point from January’s 48-year record high reading. A net 28 percent plan to raise compensation in the next three months, up two points from February. Eight percent of owners cited labor costs as their top business problem and 22 percent said that labor quality was their top business problem, now in second place following “inflation.”

Fifty-six percent reported capital outlays in the last six months, down one point from February. Of those making expenditures, 38 percent reported spending on new equipment, 22 percent acquired vehicles, and 17 percent improved or expanded facilities. Seven percent of owners acquired new buildings or land for expansion and 11 percent spent money for new fixtures and furniture. Twenty-six percent of owners plan capital outlays in the next few months.

Four percent of all owners (seasonally adjusted) reported higher nominal sales in the past three months, up four points from February. The net percent of owners expecting higher real sales volumes decreased by 12 points to a net negative 18 percent.

The net percent of owners reporting inventory increases fell five points to a net 0 percent. Not seasonally adjusted, 18 percent reported increases in stocks while 21 percent reported reductions.

Forty percent of owners report that supply chain disruptions have had a significant impact on their business, up three points. Another 28 percent report a moderate impact and 23 percent report a mild impact. Only 8 percent report no impact from recent supply chain disruptions.

A net 9 percent of owners viewed current inventory stocks as “too low” in March, up two points from February. A net 2 percent of owners plan inventory investment in the coming months, unchanged from last month and reflecting the success in inventory building in the fourth quarter.

The frequency of reports of positive profit trends was a net negative 17 percent. Among the owners reporting lower profits, 35 percent blamed the rise in the cost of materials, 23 percent blamed weaker sales, 14 percent cited the usual seasonal change, 13 percent cited labor costs, 7 percent cited lower prices, and 2 percent cited higher taxes or regulatory costs. For owners reporting higher profits, 55 percent credited sales volumes, 17 percent cited usual seasonal change, and 17 percent cited higher prices.

Four percent of owners reported that all their borrowing needs were not satisfied. Twenty-six percent reported all credit needs met and 58 percent said they were not interested in a loan. A net 3 percent reported their last loan was harder to get than in previous attempts.

One percent of owners reported that financing was their top business problem. A net 9 percent of owners reported paying a higher rate on their most recent loan, up three points from February and likely moving higher as the Federal Reserve raises interest rates.