Bill Dunkelberg 
Chief Economist for the National Federation of Independent Business since 1971, Dr. Dunkelberg is a nationally known authority on small business, entrepreneurship, consumer behavior and consumer credit and government policy. He is a past president and a Fellow of the National Association of Business Economists [NABE]. Dr. Dunkelberg has served as a regional judge for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program for 10 years and as a member of the board of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
Interviews with Bill Dunkelberg
Dunkelberg weighs in on the economic future
NFIB Index: Hiring plans and inflation are both up
NFIB Index: Optimism and pessimism
NFIB Index: Most small businesses still don’t need to borrow money
NFIB Index: Ten million still unemployed and jobs going unfilled
NFIB Index: Is Main Street having Obama déjà vu?
Why 2020 was the most unprecedented year in living memory
NFIB Index: Why business expectations sunk small business optimism
NFIB Index: Why did small business optimism tank in December?
NFIB Index: If we need more PPP, why aren’t businesses borrowing?
Articles by Bill Dunkelberg
September 2024: Main Street Uncertainty Reaches All-Time High
Bill Dunkelberg, Chief Economist at NFIB, reports, "Small business owners are feeling more uncertain than ever. Uncertainty makes owners hesitant to invest in capital spending and inventory, especi...
May 2024 Report: Small Business Uncertainty Index Reaches Highest Level Since 2020
Bill Dunkelberg, Chief Economist at NFIB, reports, "...for 29 consecutive months, small business owners have expressed historically low optimism and their views about future business conditions are...
April 2024: Inflation Continues to Hinder Small Business Operations
Bill Dunkelberg, NFIB Chief Economist, reports, "Cost pressures remain the top issue for small business owners, including historically high levels of owners raising compensation to keep and attract...
March 2024: Small Business Optimism Reaches Lowest Level Since 2012
According to Bill Dunkelberg, NFIB Chief Economist, “Small business optimism has reached the lowest level since 2012 as owners continue to manage numerous economic headwinds. Inflation has once aga...
February 2024: Optimism on Main Street Declines as Inflation Looms as Top Challenge
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg reports, "While inflation pressures have eased since peaking in 2021, small business owners are still managing the elevated costs of higher prices and interest ...
December 2023 Report: Inflation Returns as Top Business Problem on Main Street
According to NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg, "Inflation and labor quality have consistently been a tough complication for small business owners, and they are not convinced that it will get be...
January 2024: Small Business Owners Expectations for Higher Sales Declined in January
According to Bill Dunkelberg, NFIB Chief Economist, "Small business owners continue to make appropriate business adjustments in response to the ongoing economic challenges they’re facing. In Januar...
November 2023 Report: Small Business Owners Pessimistic About Future Business Conditions
According to NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg, small business owners are still having issues finding workers to fill vacancies, plus inflation continues to be a concern.
October 2023 Report: Inflation And Labor Struggles Continue To Hinder Small Businesses
NFIB is celebrating 50 years of the Small Business Economic Trends survey, but small business owners are not feeling optimistic in the current economic environment.
September 2023 Report: Small Business Optimism Dips in September as Inflation Remains Top Problem
According to NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg, small business owners remain pessimistic about the future regarding the economy, citing inflation as the top problem.