Fashion
US small business optimism falls in March 2026: NFIB survey
The seasonally-adjusted frequency of reports of positive profit trends fell by 11 points from February to negative 25 per cent, contributing the most to the optimism index’s decline.
The US National Federation of Independent Business small business optimism index fell by 3 points in March to 95.8, leaving it below its 52-year average of 98.
The seasonally-adjusted percentage of owners expecting better business conditions fell by 7 points from February to 11 per cent—the third monthly decline in a row.
Sixteen per cent of them plan to make capital outlays in the next six months.
The seasonally-adjusted net per cent of owners expecting better business conditions fell by 7 points from February to 11 per cent—the third consecutive monthly decline and the lowest level since October 2024. This was the second biggest contributor to the index’s decline.
The last time the optimism index fell below its historical average was April 2025. The uncertainty index rose by four points from February to 92, well above its historical average of 68.
“The 20-per cent small business deduction and other supportive small business tax provisions in the Working Families Tax Cut Act have had many positives for small business owners,” said NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg.
“However, the dramatic spike in oil prices has spooked consumers and owners alike. Small business owners are having to absorb those higher input costs and pass them along to their customers,” he noted in an NFIB release.
The employment index fell in March to 101.6 from February’s 103.5. While the 1.9-point decline is a meaningful turn in labour market conditions, the current reading remains above both the 2025 average of 101.2 and the historical average of 100.
In March, both planned and actual labour compensation decreased month on month (MoM). A seasonally-adjusted net 33 per cent reported raising compensation—down by a point. A seasonally-adjusted net 18 per cent plan to raise compensation in the next three months—down by 4 points MoM and the lowest reading since July 2025.
Sixteen per cent (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners plan to make capital outlays in the next six months—down by two points from February and the lowest level since November 2009.
A net negative 5 per cent (seasonally-adjusted) of owners plan inventory investment in the coming months—down by three points MoM and the lowest level since May 2024.
In March, 62 per cent of small business owners reported that supply chain disruptions affected their business to some extent—up by 3 points MoM. Three per cent reported a significant impact—down by 2 points, 17 per cent reported a moderate impact—up by 3 points, 42 per cent reported a mild impact—up by 2 points, and 36 per cent reported no impact—down by 3 points.
Actual price increases picked up in March following three consecutive months of decline. The net per cent of owners raising average selling prices rose by 1 point MoM in March to a net 25 per cent (seasonally-adjusted), well above its historical average.
When asked to evaluate the overall health of their business, 13 per cent rated it as excellent (up by one point MoM), 51 per cent as good (down by four points MoM), 30 per cent as fair (up by four points MoM), and 4 per cent as poor (down by a point).
A seasonally -adjusted 32 per cent of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in March, down by a point MoM. Unfilled job openings remain above the historical average of 24 per cent. Twenty-seven per cent had openings for skilled workers, and 12 per cent had openings for unskilled labour.
A seasonally-adjusted 12 per cent of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months, unchanged from February and close to the average of a net 11 per cent.
Nineteen per cent of business owners reported taxes as their top problem, unchanged from February. Fifteen per cent cited labour quality as their top problem.
Fourteen per cent of owners reported that inflation was their top business problem.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
The agreement covers the construction and operation of a 360-kilometre railway linking the main mining areas of Al-Shidiya and Ghor Al-Safi to the Port of Aqaba.
The United Aran Emirates and Jordan recently an agreement to develop a railway network in Jordan and establish the UAE-Jordan Railway Company.
The agreement covers the construction and operation of a 360-kilometre railway linking the main mining areas of Al-Shidiya and Ghor Al-Safi to the Port of Aqaba.
The project aims at transporting 16 million tonnes of phosphate and potash annually.
The project aims at transporting 16 million tonnes of phosphate and potash annually, with a total investment value of $2.3 billion. Both phosphate and potash are chemicals used in the textile industry.
The agreement was signed by UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail bin Mohamed Al Mazrouei and Jordan’s Minister of Transport Nidal Al-Qatamin.
The UAE-Jordan Railway Company was formally established as a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s L’IMAD Holding Company (L’IMAD) and several Jordanian stakeholders, according to an official release in the UAE.
The joint venture will be responsible for the implementation, operation and maintenance of Jordan’s railway network through its executing arm, Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway network.
The project will enhance Jordan’s export capabilities and logistics efficiency by directly linking phosphate and potash production sites to the Port of Aqaba, significantly reducing transport time and costs.
It will also support comprehensive economic development and open wide prospects for job creation across multiple sectors, leveraging the extensive expertise of Etihad Rail.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
With more than two decades of experience in the sports industry, James brings a unique combination of skills, which will help PUMA use creative direction as an important strategic lever to establish itself as a top-3 global sports brand.
Puma has appointed James Carnes as senior vice president creative direction.
Reporting to Maria Valdes, he will oversee creative direction, innovation, and product excellence.
With over two decades of experience, including leadership roles at Adidas, he will align design strategy with business goals to strengthen Puma’s global brand appeal and market position.
“James is a very highly regarded leader in our industry and he has been instrumental in shaping some of the most influential performance and lifestyle products, labels, and platforms,“ said Maria Valdes. “With a strong background in industrial design and a deep understanding of both athletes and consumers, he will play an important role in getting our customers and consumers excited about PUMA once again.”
Until 2021, James held several leadership positions in design, creative direction and strategy at adidas, both in Herzogenaurach and Portland, Oregon. Most recently he worked as an independent consultant and investor in the wider industry.
At PUMA, James will align creative direction with the company’s overall strategic ambitions, set the seasonal direction for the Business Units and create a long-term look and feel for the brand across consumer touch points.
“Creative Direction is about more than seasonal trends and colours. It is about defining how PUMA holistically presents itself in the market, harnessing the company’s portfolio of world class innovation, and deeply connecting with consumers,” said James Carnes. “We have the amazing opportunity to modernize the image and style of one of the most iconic sports brands in the world and I look forward to leading our teams and collaborating with my colleagues to make this happen.”
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
China will step up building a higher-level China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Chinese President Xi Jinping said while holding talks with visiting Vietnamese President To Lam.
China and Vietnam are accelerating efforts to navigate bilateral trade towards a more balanced and sustainable course.
President Xi Jinping recently held talks with visiting Vietnamese President To Lam.
During the visit, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung called for a restructuring of production, trade and supply chains alongside stronger investment cooperation.
Xi said both countries should work together in their modernisation drive, accelerate the alignment of development strategies and prioritise infrastructure connectivity.
While meeting Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao during the state visit, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung called for a restructuring of production, trade and supply chains alongside stronger investment cooperation.
Wang said both sides should focus on implementing the high-level common perceptions, including raising bilateral trade turnover to $500 billion in future.
Hung urged China to expand imports of Vietnamese goods, broaden the list of products eligible for tariff preferences and further open its market. He also called for the mutual recognition of quarantine results for agro-forestry-fishery products, facilitation of Vietnamese exports via cross-border e-commerce, and expansion of Vietnam’s trade promotion offices across Chinese localities, according to a Vietnamese news agency.
China will continue to support Vietnam in setting up additional trade promotion offices, following those already established in Chongqing, Hangzhou and Haikou, Wang responded.
China also expressed readiness to support Vietnam’s stronger exports through cross-border e-commerce, encouraging greater visibility of the Vietnam National Pavilion on Chinese e-commerce platforms beyond JD.com to better promote Vietnamese products to Chinese consumers.
China has consistently been Vietnam’s largest trading partner and second-largest export market, while Vietnam continues to be China’s biggest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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