SAF Wednesday E-Brief - 06/06/2007  (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
Headlines
•  Florida Growers Deal with Drought
•  Dutch Importer, Exporter Merge
Newsmakers
•  Major Newspapers Report SAF's Home Makeover Tips
•  Florida Florists' Sign Helps Land Publicity
Trends
•  Are Dads Flower-Worthy?
•  NFIB on 2007: It Won't be 'Exciting'
•  You're Phenomenal. Now, Get Back to Work.
Tips
•  A Picture is Worth ... Money in the Bank
Mark Your Calender
•  PowerPoint Class at AIFD Symposium
•  Learn to capture big customers at SAF Palm Springs 2007
Regular Features
•  Reader Feedback
•  Talk on the Forums
•  Product Spotlight: The Ultimate Floral Industry Supply Guide
•  Florists Experience Credit Card Fraud
•  Massachusetts Florist Wins Testimonial Contest
•  Increased Delivery Fees at Mother’s Day

NFIB on 2007: It Won't be 'Exciting'

A majority of small-business owners think the country's five-year economic expansion may be "winding down," according to the National Federation of Independent Business' (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index for April 2007.

"Overall, it is clear that the economy is growing much more slowly than a year ago," according to the report. "The Index of Small Business Optimism has been flat and below the 30-year average for 11 of the last twelve months."

The Optimism Index for April 2007 was at 96.8, below the 30-year average of 100.2, and slightly more business owners think the economy will get worse in the next six months compared to those who think it will get better.

Still the Optimism Index, which measures how business owners feel and not the actual economy, was not entirely negative: "The job market numbers remain surprisingly strong. But it appears that expectations for growth have softened, leading to no pick-up in capital spending that most observers were expecting. The year 2007 should take its place as the sixth year in the expansion, but it will not be an exciting year."

--Mary Westbrook
mwestbrook@safnow.org