Monthly Polling Results

April 2022

April 30, 2022

SBIQ:55.4
Current Conditions Rating:56
Future Expectations Rating:54.9

Washington, D.C. (May 13, 2022)—Today, the  Job Creators Network Foundation (JCNF) released its April Small Business IQ Poll of 500 small business owners. The Small Business Intelligence Quotient (SBIQ), an index tracking overall small business optimism about the economy, ticked down by 0.7-points compared to the previous month. The indicator continues to be depressed as high inflation remains the biggest concern among small business owners.

Additionally, only 27 percent of small businesses view the current condition of the U.S. economy as either “good” or “excellent”—the lowest reading in this area since the poll began in May 2021. Parsing out the data by employment level, small businesses with fewer than 20 workers have the gloomiest view.

Other key takeaways include:

  • Employers on the East Coast feel they are in a worse position than their counterparts in other areas across the country (Midwest, South, and West). More specifically, entrepreneurs in the East have poorer views about both the current small business climate and the direction it’s heading.
  • Seventy-seven percent of small businesses support expanding the oil and natural gas pipeline infrastructure in the U.S.
  • Ninety percent of small businesses believe increasing American manufacturing and reducing our reliance on importing will create jobs, improve the economy, and address supply chain problems.
  • A majority of small businesses (57 percent) say they have or anticipate making significant operational adjustments amid economic and labor challenges—including high inflation, labor shortages, and supply chain issues—in order to stay in business.

View more polling details and crosstabs here.

Elaine Parker, President of the Job Creators Network Foundation, released the following statement:

“While the Biden administration is touting a ‘small business boom’ and misdirecting the public, our polling shows without a doubt that Main Street is suffering. Small businesses are having a difficult time grappling with persistently high inflation, disruptive supply chain problems, and labor shortages—not to mention the threat of higher taxes and government red tape. It’s time for the White House to stop playing the blame game and take some responsibility.”

Poll Results:

Increasing American Manufacturing Will Improve the Economy, Create Jobs, and Address Supply Chain Problems

Strongly Agree
52%
Somewhat Agree
38%
Disagree
7%
Unsure
3%

Do You Support Incentivizing and Increasing American Manufacturing And Reducing Reliance on Importing?

Strongly Support
47%
Somewhat Support
31%
Somewhat Oppose
10%
Strongly Oppose
3%
Unsure
8%

Have You or Do You Anticipate Making Significant Business Adjustments in Order to Stay in Business?

Yes, Already Made
25%
Yes, Anticipate Making
32%
No
36%

How Concerned Are You that Economic Conditions Could Force You to Close Your Business?

Very Concerned
15%
Somewhat Concerned
42%
Not that Concerned
25%
Not Concerned at All
15%

Do You Support Expanding American Pipeline Infrastructure?

Strongly Support
51%
Somewhat Support
26%
Somewhat Oppose
11%
Strongly Oppose
5%
Unsure
7%

Should the U.S. Increase Domestic Oil and Natural Gas Production?

Support
78%
Oppose
13%
Unsure
9%

Is the War in Ukraine Driving Up the Cost of Gas and Energy in the U.S.?

Yes
78%
No
15%

Are Supply Chain Problems Having A Negative Impact on Your Business?

Yes
59%
No
32%
Unsure
8%

Is the Biden Administration Doing Enough to Help Supply Chain Problems?

Yes
19%
No
67%
Unsure
14%

Is the Biden Administration Doing Enough to Combat Inflation?

Yes
14%
No
69%
Unsure
17%

Will Biden Administration Tax Increases Help or Hurt Small Business?

Hurt
61%
Help
17%
No Impact
15%