The necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
Small Business Optimism Reaches 8-Year High
Small business owners are the most optimistic they’ve been since January 2008 due in large part to expected improvements in finances in the year ahead.
San Francisco--Small business owners are the most optimistic they’ve been since the recession started, according to a recent study from Wells Fargo and Gallup.
In the quarterly Small Business Index survey, Wells Fargo and Gallup question small business owners across the nation in order to gauge their perceptions of their present situation and future expectations for the next 12 months in six key areas: financial situation, cash flow, revenues, capital spending allocation, hiring and credit availability. The answers then are used to calculate the overall index score.
Wells Fargo and Gallup conducted the most recent survey from Nov. 11 to 17, finding that the overall index had increased to 80 in November. This is a 12-point increase compared with July and a 26-point increased compared with a year ago, and marks the highest optimism reading since January 2008.
It also represents the largest quarterly increase in the index in a year.
Wells Fargo said a major driver behind the optimism is how business owners feel about the year ahead; 45 percent indicated that they expect the operating environment to be better for business in 2017.
Many of the small business owners surveyed also said they expect their finances to improve next year.
Other key findings from the study are as follows.
• More than half (58 percent) expect revenue to increase a little or a lot in the next 12 months, up from the 48 percent who said the same thing in July.
• Meanwhile, 70 percent believe their cash flow will be somewhat or very good in the next 12 months. This is up from 65 percent in July.
• More than one-third (35 percent) said they plan to increase capital spending a lot or a little.
• Thirty-six percent expect the number of jobs at their company to increase a little or a lot over the next year. Wells Fargo said this is the highest reading for this factor in the 13-year history of the survey.
In the survey, small business owners also were asked about their priorities for President-elect Donald Trump and the incoming Congress.
Eighty-one percent of small business owners said they wanted them to focus on changes to the tax code, tax regulation and tax rates for small businesses. Other top issues include actions relating to healthcare and the current healthcare law (76 percent), overall action on government regulations impacting small business owners (70 percent), and actions that could
When asked what the new administration could do to help small businesses grow, 90 percent said improving the economy overall was at the top, followed by reducing taxes on small businesses (81 percent) and simplifying the tax code as it pertains to small businesses (78 percent).
Slightly more than half (51 percent) of small business owners think that the new president and Congress will take actions next year to make their businesses better off, while 17 percent think their businesses will be worse off and 26 percent think their actions will have no effect.
These results are similar to what National Jeweler/Jewelers of America found in its latest Business Pulse survey, which focused on the election.
Consumer confidence
In addition to the surge in optimism among small business owners, the University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment also showed that consumer confidence has skyrocketed following the election.
In early December, consumer confidence climbed to 98 on the index, just one-tenth of a point below the 2015 peak, which was the highest level since the start of 2004. The university said this was largely due to consumers’ initial reactions to Trump’s victory.
The university also said in its results that when asked what news they had heard of recent economic developments, “more consumers spontaneously mentioned the expected positive impact of new economic policies than ever before recorded in the long history of the surveys.”
Though just as many offered negative opinions about prospective economic policies, the frequency of those negative references was less than half their prior peak levels, whereas positive references were about twice their prior peak.
The Latest
The two organizations will host a joint event, “Converge,” in September 2025.
Big changes appear to be on the horizon for the diamond miner and its parent company, Anglo American.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
Padis succeeds Lisa Bridge, marking the first time the organization has had two women board presidents in a row.
Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shared the “five Es” of building a fan base during his AGS Conclave keynote.
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
The announcement came as the company reported a 23 percent drop in production in Q1.
The three-time Pro Bowler continues to partner with the retailer, donating to a Detroit nonprofit and giving watches to fans.
A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
Inspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
The selected nine organizations have outlined their plans for the funds.
The mining company’s Diavik Diamond Mine lost four employees in a plane crash in January.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.
Emmanuel Raheb recommends digging into demographic data, customizing your store’s communications, and retargeting ahead of May 12.
Located in the town of Queensbury, it features a dedicated bridal section and a Gabriel & Co. store-in-store.
A 203-carat diamond from the alluvial mine in Angola achieved the highest price.
Ruser was known for his figural jewelry with freshwater pearls and for his celebrity clientele.
The “Rebel Heart” campaign embodies rebellion, romance, and sensuality, the brand said.
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares the standout moments from the education sessions she attended in Austin last week.
The overhaul includes a new logo and enhanced digital marketplace.
The money will go toward supporting ongoing research and aftercare programs for childhood cancer survivors.
A new addition to the “Heirloom” collection, this one-of-a-kind piece features 32 custom-cut gemstones.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The move will allow the manufacturing company to offer a more “diverse and comprehensive” range of products.