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August 2025 Small Business Index Bounces Back

by Gary Stockton 1 min read October 1, 2025

The Experian Small Business Index™ shows a modest rebound, improving 4.6 points month-over-month.

Experian Small Business Index

August 2025

  • Index Value (Aug):37.4
  • Previous Month:32.8
  • MoM:+4.6
  • YoY:-8.8 (Aug 2024 = 46.2)

The Experian Small Business Index™ rebounded in August, up 4.6 points to 37.4. After slowing in the first half of the year, early data suggests the US economy is set to expand at a solid rate in the third quarter. The Fed cut interest rates by 25bp and signaled two additional 25bp cuts by the end of the year, which should help stimulate economic growth.

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased slightly in August to 100.8 from 100.3, the highest level since January 2025, on forecasts of better-than-expected growth in the upcoming months. However, the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment continued to decline, as unemployment edged up slightly and job growth has been weak. Entrepreneurs continue to see this as a good time to start a business, with 474K new businesses launched in August, up from 471K in July.

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