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
The latest NFIB Small Business Optimism Index
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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?
NFIB Index: Is hiring recovering in the middle of a pandemic?
NFIB Index: Is Q4 2020 small business optimism the reverse of Q4 2016?
Articles by Bill Dunkelberg
January 2021 Report: Small Business Optimism Drops Further Below Historical Index Average in January
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg reports the Index declined again in January to 95, 0.9 below the December Index, and three points below the 47-year average of 98.
December 2020 Report: Small Business Optimism Drops Below Index Average in December
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg reports the Index declined 5.5 points in December, falling below the average Index value since 1973 of 98.
November 2020 Report: Small Business Owners Remain Uncertain After Election
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg reports the Index declined 2.6 points in November, but still remains well above the 47-year historical average reading.
October 2020 Report: Small Business Optimism Remains Steady in October, but Owners’ Uncertainty Increased
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg reports a historically-high reading again for October, with solid momentum going into the 4th quarter.
November 2019 Report: Small Business Optimism Sees Major Spike in November
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg reports reports small business optimism posted the largest month-over-month gain since May 2018.
October 2019 Report: Small Businesses Continue to Push the Economy Forward
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg reports the Index gained 0.6 points with eight of the 10 components advancing and talk of a recession waning.
September 2019 Report: Small Business Optimism Declines but Remains Historically High
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg reports the Index fell 1.3 points, but still maintains a historically solid reading.
August 2019 Report: Small Business Economy Remains Steady, Despite Doom and Gloom Narrative That’s Hampering Expectations
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg reports the Uncertainty Index rose four points in August, and the lack of qualified workers is still the main impediment to growth.
July 2019 Report: Small Business Optimism Continues to Defy Expectations
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg reports uncertainty levels fell 10 points, reversing the surge in June that reached the highest level since March 2017.
June 2019 Report: Small Business Optimism Index Small Business Optimism Reverses Last Month’s Gain as Uncertainty Rises
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg reports though uncertainty levels increased, job openings and plans to create jobs remain strong.