RSS Feed

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased slightly in November by 0.2 points to 98.4. Four of the 10 Index components improved, four declined, and two were unchanged. The NFIB Uncertainty Index decreased four points to 63.
“As the end of the year nears, the outlook for business conditions is not encouraging to small business owners as lawmakers propose additional mandates and tax increases,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg.
“Owners are also pessimistic as many continue managing challenges like rampant inflation and supply chain disruptions that are impacting their businesses right now.”
State-specific data is not available, but NFIB State Director Dawn McVea said, “Our small business members had hoped all this would be behind them by now, but it’s clear that issues such as the supply chain and labor will continue to be a challenge in the coming year.”
Key findings include:
• Owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months decreased one point to a net negative 38%, tied for the 48-year record low reading. This indicator has declined 18 points over the past four months to its lowest reading since November 2012.
• The net percent of owners raising selling prices increased six points to a net 59% (seasonally adjusted), the highest reading since October 1979.
• Seasonally adjusted, a net 54% of owners plan price hikes, up three points from October and a 48-year record high reading.
• Forty-eight percent of owners reported job openings that could not be filled, a decrease of one point from October.
As reported in NFIB’s monthly jobs report, small business owners continue to struggle to find workers to fill their open positions.
Forty-eight percent (seasonally adjusted) of all small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, down one point from October. Overall, 60% of owners reported hiring or trying to hire in November.
Fifty-five percent of owners reported capital outlays in the last six months, down one point from October. Of those owners making expenditures, 39% reported spending on new equipment, 22% acquired vehicles, and 14% improved or expanded facilities.
Six percent of owners acquired new buildings or land for expansion and 13% spent money for new fixtures and furniture. Twenty-seven percent of owners plan capital outlays in the next few months, down four points from October.
A net negative 2% of all owners (seasonally adjusted) reported higher nominal sales in the past three months, up two points from October. The net percent of owners expecting higher real sales volumes increased two points to a net 2%.
The net percent of owners reporting inventory increases gained two points to a net 3%. Thirty-five percent of owners report that supply chain disruptions have had a significant impact on their business, 31% report a moderate impact, and 22% report a mild impact. Only 9% of owners report no impact from recent supply chain disruptions.
A net 15% of owners viewed current inventory stocks as “too low” in November, up six points from October and a record-high level. A net 10% of owners plan inventory investments in the coming months, up two points from October and historically a very elevated reading.
The net percent of owners raising selling prices increased six points to a net 59% (seasonally adjusted), the highest reading since October 1979. Three percent (unadjusted) reported lower average selling prices and 59% reported higher average prices.
Price hikes were the most frequent in wholesale (88% higher, 0% lower), construction (75% higher, 7% lower), and manufacturing (66% higher, 1% lower). Seasonally adjusted, a net 54% of owners plan price hikes, up three points from October and a 48-year record high reading.
A net 44% (seasonally adjusted) of owners reported raising compensation, unchanged from October and a 48-year record high reading. A net 32% plan to raise compensation in the next three months, also unchanged from October and a record high reading.
Ten percent of owners cited labor costs as their top business problem and 29% said that labor quality was their top business problem.
The frequency of reports of positive profit trends remained at a net negative 17%. Among those owners reporting lower profits, 32% blamed the rise in the cost of materials, 25% blamed weaker sales, 9% cited labor costs, 9% cited the usual seasonal change, 16% cited lower prices, and 2% cited higher taxes or regulatory costs.
For owners who report higher profits, 61% credited sales volumes, 11% cited usual seasonal change, and 17% cited higher prices.
Two percent of owners reported that all their borrowing needs were not satisfied, 23% reported all credit needs were met, and 65% said they were not interested in a loan. A net 2% reported their last loan was harder to get than in previous attempts. Zero percent of owners reported that financing was their top business problem.
A net 2% of owners reported paying a higher rate on their most recent loan.
The NFIB Research Center has collected Small Business Economic Trends data with quarterly surveys since the 4th quarter of 1973 and monthly surveys since 1986. Survey respondents are randomly drawn from NFIB’s membership. The report is released on the second Tuesday of each month. The survey was conducted in November 2021.

December 9
• Coty Thibodeaux: Arrested by Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office on a fugitive warrant (no bond).
• Shon Jolivette: Arrested by Crowley Police Department for possession of Schedule II narcotics ($1,500 bond); possession of Schedule I narcotics (no bond); possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (no bond); possession of a stolen firearm ($5,000 bond): obstruction of justice ($2,500 bond).

December 10
• Jerrid Johnson, Crowley: Arrested by APSO on a bench warrant (no bond).
• Kullyn Briley, Church Point: Arrested by APSO on a bench warrant (no bond).
• Danigha Grant, Rayne: Arrested by Rayne P.D. for two counts of domestic abuse / aggravated assault ($2,500 bond each count); one count of criminal damage to property ($2,500 bond).
• Lorri Hanks: Arrested by APSO for possession of ecstasy ($1,500 bond); possession of drug paraphernalia (no bond).

December 11
• Lonnie Lambert: Arrested by APSO for domestic abuse by strangulation ($5,000 bond); home invasion ($20,000 bond); theft (no bond); bench warrant ($2,500 bond); fugitive warrant (no bond).
• Jason Dupuis: Arrested by APSO on a fugitive warrant (no bond).
• Joseph Briscoe, Eunice: Arrested by APSO on a bench warrant (no bond).
• Samuel Hebert, Morse: Arrested by Morse P.D. for unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling ($1,500 bond).
• Holland Trahan Jr., Crowley: Arrested by APSO on a bench warrant (no bond).
• Joshua Hebert, Church Point: Arrested by Crowley P.D. on a fugitive warrant ($1,500 bond).
• James Thibodeaux, Eunice: Arrested by APSO for indecent behavior with a juvenile ($2,500 bond).

December 12
• Jerkayla Campbell, Crowley: Arrested by Crowley P.D. for identity theft ($5,000 bond).

After a year, more than 2.29 million Louisianans — nearly 50 percent of the state’s population — became fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to LDH.
Gov. John Bel Edwards and LDH say Louisiana has seen a decrease in the number of people hospitalized with COVID and in the percent of COVID tests that are positive.
The vast majority of COVID hospitalizations, cases and deaths are in those who have not yet been vaccinated.
COVID-19 vaccinations began on Dec. 14, 2020, and since that day more than 4.7 million doses have been administered in Louisiana alone. More than 2.5 million Louisianans have at least one dose of the vaccine and more than 544,000 booster doses have been administered.
According to the CDC, nearly 25 percent of Louisiana’s eligible population has received a booster dose.
In addition to a nearly eight-fold decrease in COVID hospitalizations today when compared to a year ago, the percent of COVID tests that were positive in Louisiana was nearly 10 percent a year ago, which signals out-of-control community spread.
On Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, the state’s percent positivity was 2.3 percent, which signals a much lower risk level across Louisiana.
“One year ago, I was proud and hopeful as I witnessed Nurse Deborah Ford receive the first COVID-19 vaccine dose in the state of Louisiana. Since that day, I am proud to see that more than 2.29 million Louisianans have gone sleeves up and are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Just one year ago today, we had 1,527 people hospitalized with COVID. Today, thanks to the vaccine, that number is below 200,” Edwards said Tuesday.
“That is not to say the past year has not been without tragedy and loss. We’ve seen more than 500,000 COVID infections in Louisiana in the last year, and we’ve lost at least 8,052 Louisianans in that time alone.
“As has been true since the start of the pandemic, the vast majority of people who have died or become critically ill from COVID were not vaccinated — either because the vaccine was not available in the early months of the pandemic or they simply had not taken it yet. Fortunately, the vaccines are here and widely available now, and the importance of taking the vaccines along with the boosters when eligible simply cannot be stressed enough, especially now that the Omicron variant is here.
“They are our best and most effective path of protection for ourselves, loved ones and community.
Everyone aged 5 and older is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Louisiana. The FDA has only authorized one of the three COVID-19 vaccines — from Pfizer — for children ages 5 to 17. Parents should confirm with the vaccine provider that their child is under 18 to ensure Pfizer vaccine is available before making an appointment.
COVID-19 vaccines are widely available at more than 1,000 locations in all of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, including at pharmacies, hospitals, health care clinics, and doctor’s offices.
For a list of locations, visit LDH’s vaccine directory or visit vaccines.gov, which is maintained by the federal government.
To get a list of vaccine locations near you text your ZIP code to GETVAX (438829) in English, or VACUNA (822862) in Spanish.
If you have questions, would like to speak with a medical professional, or need help scheduling an appointment, call 211 or Louisiana’s vaccine hotline at 1-855-453-0774.

Parker Mitchell was sworn in as Acadia Parish’s first Administrative Law Judge during Monday night’s meeting of the Acadia Parish Police Jury.
As such, Mitchell will preside over such matters as code enforcement and animal control — parish ordinances that are not usually enforced by law enforcement agencies.
Parish citizens who want to appeal code or animal citations may appear before the ALJ to plead their case.
Appeals to the ALJ’s decisions go to district court.
Mitchell is a family law attorney at Miller, Mitchell and Luquette in Crowley. He assists clients with criminal defense and personal injury.
He graduated from Southern University Law Center in 2013. He was subsequently admitted to legal practice in 2013 after passing the bar exam.