KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Small business confidence is steady, and hiring plans are up as inflation worries increase.
- The U.S. Chamber has testified 19 times before this Congress—turning business expertise into pro-growth policy that supports jobs and strengthens communities.
Small Businesses Hold Their Ground as Inflation Concerns Grow
Small businesses are navigating rising inflation anxiety without losing their footing, according to the
Q2 U.S. Chamber Small Business Index.
- More than half (57%) of respondents cited inflation as a top concern, up from 48% in Q2 2025, but expectations for increased revenue and hiring kept the Index on par with last quarter. Worry over inflation seems to also be showing up in data around small business owners' attitudes toward their local economy.
By the numbers:
- 33% rated the local economy as good this quarter, compared to 41% a year ago.
- 30% rated the national economy as good, similar to a year ago.
- 69% reported steady business health, compared to 68% a year ago.
Looking ahead: Despite cost pressures, small business owners anticipate higher revenues and increased hiring.
- Two-thirds (66%) expect revenue to increase over the next year, up from 61% last quarter.
- Hiring intentions ticked up: 35% plan to add staff, compared to 30% last quarter.
Our take: "The message this quarter is one of measured confidence: small employers are still looking ahead, even as they navigate a tougher cost environment"
said Tom Sullivan, U.S. Chamber Senior Vice President of Small Business Policy.
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U.S. Chamber Takes Business Case for AI, Disaster Preparedness to Congress
U.S. Chamber policy experts made the case on Capitol Hill this week that smart policy on disaster preparedness and artificial intelligence improves Americans' lives and strengthens businesses and communities.
Why it matters: Congress depends on the U.S. Chamber to share expertise, provide policy analysis, and promote collaboration between government and business. This leads to pro-growth policies that support jobs, lower costs, and improve lives for workers and families across the country.
What they said:
- "When communities and companies invest in stronger infrastructure, modernized building practices, better planning, improved data, and stronger public-private coordination, it reduces the likelihood that a disaster becomes an economic crisis," said Chuck Chaitovitz, Vice President of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
- On AI, Jordan Crenshaw, Senior Vice President of the U.S. Chamber Technology Engagement Center, told the House Small Business Committee that the technology is delivering for Main Street, pointing to a Coachella Valley skincare entrepreneur who used generative AI to cut sourcing costs without raising prices for customers.
Big picture: Strong relationships with lawmakers help shape policies that work for American workers and businesses. During the 119th Congress, U.S. Chamber experts have testified before Congressional committees 14 times—19 when counting Chamber-affiliated voices—spanning AI, small business, veteran hiring, and more.
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CHAMBER IN ACTION
U.S. Chamber to Host Iraqi Prime Minister
The U.S. Chamber will host Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi at the U.S.-Iraq Business Summit on Friday, July 17.
Top Iraqi and U.S. government officials—including
U.S. Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright,
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and the Special Presidential Envoy to Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack,
U.S. Chamber President and CEO Suzzane P. Clark, and
U.S. Chamber Chairman of the Board Ross Perot Jr.—as well as U.S. and Iraqi business leaders will convene for discussions on strengthening private sector-led growth in Iraq.
- Insurance company USAA will return nearly $1 billion in savings to eligible Florida policyholders as a direct result of legislation passed by Florida lawmakers to rein in lawsuit abuse, wrote Stephen Waguespack, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, in an op-ed in the Washington Examiner.
- Europe is taking steps to wall off U.S. firms from cloud computing work, undermining the partnership that underpins transatlantic security, writes Jordan Heiber, U.S. Chamber Vice President for International Digital Economy Policy.
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