Economic Decline

GDP growth is down, but so are jobless claims. It's yet another example of the up-and-down ride that defined the U.S. economy for small businesses in 2011.

The jobless rate hit its lowest level since March 2009, but wrangling over a payroll tax-cut extension continues to add uncertainty for small businesses.

The think tank's latest report on global economic conditions suggests that small businesses should brace for two years of weaker growth.

Lower than expected revenue and the failure of discount retailer Syms suggest that small retailers will face major challenges this holiday season.

As the Fed ponders the right road to economic recovery, the pace of small-business hiring is still stuck in neutral.

The New Yorker says “Big Is Beautiful” and small businesses have been overhyped. But like other critics of small businesses, they’re missing the point.

Believe it or not, sometimes big businesses really do help out small businesses. Just be careful not to get too dependent on them.

August brought bad news about American's personal incomes -- yet consumer confidence seems to be on the rise. Will that translate to more spending?

Got optimism? Not if you're a small-business owner, according to the results of the latest NFIB survey. And the President's job-creation initiative may not change their minds.

Every salesperson, regardless of his or her industry, product, or skill level, makes mistakes. Learn the most common sales blunders and how to avoid them.

You need to prove that even though you're small, you're still a solid business partner. Here are the keys to making that happen.

Surprise! A new study finds that the vast majority of stuff Americans buy is made in America.

Wal-Mart's better-than-expected quarterly earnings report offers lessons that can benefit small businesses, too.

Trade pacts with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea are stuck in political limbo, costing small businesses billions in potential new revenue.

U.S. workers are putting in more hours, but producing less. Ironically, the trend could suggest small businesses may not be able to put off hiring much longer.

Wild day on Wall Street ends way up as the Federal Reserve vows to hold short-term rates close to zero. That should ease fears of a jump in small-business borrowing costs.

If the settlement of the U.S. debt ceiling issue was supposed to calm markets, it did little to stop global stock markets from plummeting more than 4 percent today.

If you just read the headlines, you’d believe the economy is returning to good health. But a look inside the numbers tells a more disturbing story.

Small businesses may face anouther round of belt-tightening as consumers show no signs of being less stingy with their cash.