SurePayroll Scorecard

January 2012 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Wednesday, February 1 2012

The year came to a close with hiring and wages down in December, leaving year-to-date trends mostly unchanged. Year-to-date nationwide hiring ended up at -3.2 percent year-to-date, with wages at -0.8 percent. Despite these numbers, the Small Business Optimism Survey provides some very positive signs for 2012 in key areas. Small business owners' optimism rose to 63 percent, up from 53 percent in the previous two months, and an all-time low of 33 percent in September. Additionally, 50 percent of small business owners said they plan to hire in 2012 and 56 percent plan to raise wages for some or all employees. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2012/january/

December 2011 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, January 2 2011

November 2011 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thursday, December 1 2011

November shows little change with the 14th consecutive month of flat or shrinking hiring numbers nationwide and a year-to-date decline in hiring of 3 percent. The average paycheck increased only slightly, still down 0.5 percent year-to-date. Despite this trend, the Small Business Optimism Survey shows owners’ optimism remaining steady from last month at 53 percent, which had greatly increased from September’s record low of 33 percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2011/november/

October 2011 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Tuesday, November 1 2011

October paints a dreary picture with the 13 consecutive month of flat or shrinking hiring numbers nationwide with a year-to-date decline in hiring of 2.9%. The average paycheck dipped again, down 0.6% year-to-date. Despite this trend, the Small Business Optimism Survey shows owners' sentiment leapt 20% since last month's record-low optimism level. Now 53% of small business owners report feeling optimistic. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2011/october/

September 2011 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, October 3 2011

September drums in the 12th consecutive month of flat or shrinking hiring numbers nationwide pounding a year-to-date decline in hiring of 2.7%. The average paycheck dipped even further down 0.4% year-to-date. Our Small Business Optimism Survey hit an all-time low with only 33% of owners reporting that they feel optimistic. This is a substantial drop since August when 48% reported being optimistic and even more significant considering that in June 67% reported feeling optimistic. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2011/september/

August 2011 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thursday, September 1 2011

August marks the eleventh consecutive month of flat or shrinking hiring numbers across the nation, leaving us with a 2.6% decrease in small business hiring year to date. The average paycheck remains down 0.3% year-to-date. According to our Small Business Optimism Survey, 48% of small business owners report being optimism in August, nearly the same as last month but down significantly from June's 67%. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2011/august/

July 2011 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, August 1 2011

July marked the tenth consecutive month of flat or shrinking hiring numbers across the nation, leaving us with a 2.4% decrease in small business hiring year to date. The average paycheck dipped 20 basis points from last month, leaving us with a 0.3% year-to-date decrease in pay. According to our Small Business Optimism Survey, 47% of small business owners report being optimism in July, down significantly from June’s 67%. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2011/july/

June 2011 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Friday, July 1 2011

June marked the ninth consecutive month of flat or shrinking hiring numbers across the nation. The average paycheck size is down slightly year-to-date but is up just a sliver month-over-month. Year-to-date and month-over-month hiring remained flat. Despite these numbers, small business optimism remained relatively high at 67 percent after last month’s surge to 75%. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2011/june/

May 2011 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Wednesday, June 1 2011

May marked the eighth consecutive month of flat or shrinking hiring numbers across the nation. The average paycheck size is down slightly year-to-date and month-over-month. Despite these numbers, small business optimism soared to 75 percent from 52 percent in April. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2011/may/

April 2011 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, May 2 2011

The rising price of commodities — particularly oil — continues to take its toll on small business owners and the small business economy. April marked the seventh consecutive month of flat or shrinking hiring numbers across the nation. The average paycheck size is down slightly year-to-date and month-over-month. Small business optimism plummeted from a recent high of 69 percent to 52 percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2011/april/

March 2011 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Friday, April 1 2011

While other sources report hiring and wages increased in March, Main Street employers weren't singing the same tune. March marked the sixth consecutive month of flat or shrinking hiring numbers across the nation. The average paycheck size is flat. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2011/march/

February 2011 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Wednesday, March 2 2011

2011 is becoming a rerun of 2010's small business economy storyline. February marked the fifth consecutive month of flat or shrinking hiring numbers across the nation. The average paycheck size, however, continued to grow. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2011/february/

January 2011 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Tuesday, February 1 2011

2011 has started as a mixed bag for the small business economy. January ushered in the fourth consecutive month of flat or shrinking hiring numbers. The average paycheck size, however, continued to grow. While the year-to-date hiring decrease of -0.5 percent indicates a lack of economic growth, small business hiring is up compared to January 2010. The year-to-date paycheck size increase of +0.5 percent suggests while employers aren't actively hiring, business is picking up and hourly employees are working more shifts. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2011/january/

December 2010 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, January 3 2011

Small businesses nationwide have entered their third consecutive month of flat or shrinking hiring numbers after four consecutive months of positive year-to-date growth. The average paycheck size, however, continues to grow. That brings us to a year-to-date increase in small business hiring of +1.2 percent and a year-to-date pay increase of +0.6 percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2010/december/

November 2010 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Wednesday, December 1 2010

Small business hiring began its second month of flat or shrinking hiring numbers after four consecutive months of positive year-to-date growth. The average paycheck size, however, continued to hold the positive growth we saw in October. That brings us to a year-to-date increase in small business hiring of +4.2 percent and a year-to-date pay increase of +0.6 percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2010/november/

October 2010 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, November 1 2010

Small business hiring was flat in October, ending four consecutive months of positive year-to-date growth. The average paycheck size, however, showed small improvement with positive growth in October. That brings us to a year-to-date increase in small business hiring of +4.3 percent and a year-to-date pay increase of +0.6 percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2010/october/

September 2010 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Friday, October 1 2010

Small business hiring saw a slight jump 0.1% , giving us four consecutive months of positive year-to-date growth. The average paycheck size also shows small improvement with positive 0.5% growth in September. That brings us to a year-to-date increase in small business hiring of +4.3 percent — a +0.1 percent increase over August — and a year-to-date pay increase of 0.5 percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2010/september/

August 2010 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Wednesday, September 1 2010

Small business hiring continued at the same rate as July, giving us three consecutive months of +0.2 percent nationwide hiring growth. The average paycheck, however, has taken a slight step back, decreasing -0.1 percent compared to July. That brings us to a year-to-date increase in small business hiring of 4.2 percent — a +0.1 percent increase over July — and a year-to-date pay decrease of -0.5 percent — a -0.1 percent dip over July. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2010/august/

July 2010 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, August 2 2010

Small business hiring continued at the same rate as June, giving us two consecutive months of +0.2 percent nationwide hiring growth. The average paycheck, however, has leveled off, remaining flat month-over-month since June’s -0.6 percent dip over May. That brings us to a year-to-date increase in small business hiring of 4.1 percent — a +0.2 percent increase over June — and a year-to-date pay decrease of -0.4 percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2010/july/

June 2010 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thursday, July 1 2010

Small business hiring continued to increase slightly in June (+0.2 percent over May) while the average paycheck took a larger month-over-month dip (-0.6 percent over May) than we’ve seen since pay leveled off in March. That brings us to a year-to-date increase in small business hiring of 3.9 percent and a year-to-date pay decrease of -0.4 percent. This decrease may be partially attributable to payroll calendar adjustments in light of Memorial Day. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2010/june/

May 2010 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Tuesday, June 1 2010

Small business hiring continued to increase slightly in May (+0.3 percent over April) while pay took a very slight month-over-month dip (-0.1 percent over April). That brings us to a year-to-date increase in small business hiring of 3.7 percent and a year-to-date pay increase of 0.2 percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2010/may/

April 2010 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, May 3 2010

Small business hiring continued to increase in April while pay took a very slight month-over-month dip of -0.1 percent, leaving pay essentially flat for each month in 2010. That brings us to a year-to-date increase in small business hiring of 3.4 percent and a year-to-date pay increase of 0.3 percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2010/april/

March 2010 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thursday, April 1 2010

The quarter ended on a positive note with a year-to-date increase in small business hiring of 3.1 percent and a year-to-date increase in pay of 0.4 percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2010/march/

February 2010 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thursday, March 4 2010

Hiring increased nearly 2 percent in the month of February, with continued and increasing reliance on independent contractors. Paychecks have increased slightly for the second month in a row, indicating that wages could be stabilizing. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2010/february/

January 2010 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Tuesday, February 2 2010

2010 started on a positive note, with national small business hiring up 0.8 percent for the month, and small business paychecks up just slightly — 0.1 percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2010/january/

December 2009 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, January 4 2009

Small Business hiring is up 0.8 percent in December from November — the greatest month-over-month hiring increase seen since February ’08. That brings us to a year-to-date increase of 3.4 percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2009/december/

November 2009 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Tuesday, December 1 2009

Small business hiring is up from the previous month, bringing us to a 2.6 percent year-to-date increase. Small business salaries continue to head in the opposite direction, with a year-to-date decline of eight percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2009/november/

October 2009 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, November 2 2009

Optimism levels dropped to 50 percent, an additional 10 percent decline from small business optimism levels in the prior month. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2009/october/

September 2009 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thursday, October 1 2009

Optimism levels dropped to 60 percent, an 11 percent decline from small business optimism levels in the prior month. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2009/september/

August 2009 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Tuesday, September 1 2009

The summary for August is that hiring is up, while salaries are down. Year-to-date small business hiring, as measured by changes in the average size of a U.S. small business, is up 1.9 percent. Small business salaries, on the other hand, have consistently been trending in the opposite direction. Year to date, the average small business salary has dropped 6 percent. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2009/august/

July 2009 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Friday, July 31 2009

Year-to-date small business hiring, as measured by changes in the average size of a U.S. small business, is up 1.7 percent. Salaries, on the other hand, have consistently been trending in the opposite direction. Year to date, the average small business salary has dropped 5.1 percent. Small business hiring was up 0.2 percent in July. Salaries were down 0.8 percent. Regionally, small business hiring was up in July 2009 in every region except the West. In contrast, small business salaries were down in all four regions. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2009/july/

June 2009 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Wednesday, July 1 2009

Year to date, small business hiring, as measured by changes in the average size of a U.S. small business, is up 1.5 percent. Salaries, on the other hand, have consistently been trending in the opposite direction. Year to date, the average small business salary has dropped 4.3 percent. Small business hiring was up 0.2 percent in June. Salaries were down 0.8 percent. On a regional basis, small business hiring was up in June 2009 in every region except the West. Small business salaries, on the other hand, were down in all four regions. http://www.surepayroll.com/scorecard/2009/june/

May 2009 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, June 1 2009

Small business owners more optimistic about the economy

April 2009 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Wednesday, May 1 2009

The Contractors Are Coming! The Contractors Are Coming!

March 2009 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Wednesday, April 1 2009

Small Business Optimism Up, Hiring Up, Salaries Down

February 2009 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Tuesday, March 3 2009

We seem to be the only ones who don't believe the sky is falling.

January 2009 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, February 2 2009

Small Businesses Start 2009 With 0.3% Growth and 0.1% Salary Decline.

December 2008 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, October 3 2008

2008 is officially over and it's time to tally up how the small business economy performed over the course of a year that many of us are only too eager to forget.

November 2008 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, October 3 2008

Joe the Plumber and his cohorts in the small business world managed to keep on hiring in November.

October 2008 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, October 3 2008

Small businesses are the Rocky Balboa of the economic world. Beat them to a pulp and they keep on fighting.

September 2008 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thursday, October 2 2008

Small business salaries drop but small business hiring growth for September set a new high for 2008.

August 2008 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thursday, 4 September 2008

Small business salaries drop but small business hiring growth for August set a new high for 2008. With two months until the November election, it's time to take stock of how small businesses are faring nationwide.

July 2008 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thursday, 31 July 2008

July Economic Growth Stronger Than Expected. On the bright side, July witnessed the highest hiring levels year to date for the small business economy.

June 2008 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Tuesday, 1 July 2008

Small Businesses Economy Leveraging Contractors to Fuel Growth. The US small business economy appears to be making more extensive use of independent contractors.

May 2008 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Friday, 30 May 2008

The US small business economy showed better-than-expected growth in May, suggesting that small business owners may have played a pivotal role in helping the country steer clear of recession. The average small business in the United States increased in size in May by 0.3%, higher than we expected based on last month's 0.1% increase.

April 2008 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thursday, 1 May 2008

The average small business in the United States increased in size in April, but growth is clearly slowing down. We continue to move forward but we are moving ahead at a decelerating rate. Slowing growth is bad news, but every economic storm cloud has a silver lining. In this case, the good news is that we are not going backward. When we start to see small businesses shrinking, if it comes to that, then we have cause to be alarmed.

March 2008 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Wed, 2 April 2008 08:58:15 -0500

What's happening right now in the small business economy is puzzling. The small business economy is defying gravity. Despite the economic downturn, small businesses are hiring. It has to be tough to grow a business in this economic climate. You're like a goldfish swimming upstream into a firehose. Yet, despite the odds against them, the SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard data shows definitively that small businesses have been increasing their payrolls.

February 2008 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, 3 March 2008

Salaries are dropping and just in the nick of time: With recession fears looming, small business owners in search of good news can find it in this month's SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard.

January 2008 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thursday, 31 January 2008

Small Business Economy Refuses to Hit the Brakes: Rumors of an economic decline may be premature. Small businesses are still hiring.

December 2007 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Wednesday, 2 January 2008

Positive Year for Small Business Owners. With small businesses representing 99.7 percent of all employer firms in the United States, the answer to the question "How did the U.S. economy do in 2007?" can be answered in large part by asking "How did the small business economy do in 2007?" To create the SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard, we analyze the payroll data for over 18,000 small businesses to estimate how small business owners are faring. This dataset represents small businesses in every state and spans a representative set of industries and firm sizes, making it an excellent proxy for the entire small business economy.

November 2007 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Monday, 3 November 2007

The November 2007 SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard results are in. Find out what's happening in the small business economy.

October 2007 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thurs, 1 November 2007

The October 2007 SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard results are in. Find out what's happening in the small business economy.

September 2007 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Mon, 1 October 2007

The September 2007 SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard results are in. Find out what's happening in the small business economy.

August 2007 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Tue, 4 September 2007

The August 2007 SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard results are in. Find out what's happening in the small business economy.

July 2007 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Tue, 31 July 2007

The July 2007 SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard results are in. Find out what's happening in the small business economy.

June 2007 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thu, 05 July 2007

The June 2007 SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard results are in. Find out what's happening in the small business economy.

May 2007 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Thu, 31 May 2007

The May 2007 SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard results are in. Find out what's happening in the small business economy.

April 2007 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:33:22 -0500

The April 2007 SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard results are in. Find out what's happening in the small business economy.

March 2007 SurePayroll Scorecard

malter@surepayroll.com — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 09:33:22 -0500

The March 2007 SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard results are in. Find out what's happening in the small business economy.