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Small business owners remain 'cautiously optimistic' heading into 2026 amid rising costs, labor challenges

On HALO

1 month ago

Many small business owners are betting on growth in the year ahead, even as inflation, labor shortages and economic uncertainty continue to pressure operations, a new survey finds.About 80% of small business owners say they are confident in their outlook, and about 79% expect revenue growth in 2026, according to Comerica Bank’s Small Business Pulse Index released Dec. 9.Those expecting growth project an average revenue increase of 7.9%."It is evident that challenges are still weighing heavily on them, but they remain cautiously optimistic about what’s ahead in 2026," Larry Franco, executive vi...