Franchises hired another 17,010 workers in July, according to the ADP National Franchise Report. That’s about half of June’s increase, but consistent with lower hiring by all U.S. small businesses. “Franchise job growth slowed significantly in July,” said Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and head of the ADP Research Institute. “Since many franchise businesses fall into …
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Consumer Confidence Hits Highest Point Since 2007; U.S. GDP Rebounds 4% in Q2
Consumer confidence – one of the biggest drivers of economic growth and a key factor in franchise and small-business investment – jumped to a new post-recession high this month, and hitting its highest level since October 2007. As confirmation of that confidence, the U.S. Gross Domestic Product reported 4% annualized growth for the second quarter, …
Growth Signals: Unemployment At 8-year Low
In another sign that the economy is starting to pick up, U.S. unemployment applications have hit their lowest level in eight years. See details at MarketWatch.
Business is Up: Sales, Hiring and Wages Rose in Q2
Rising sales helped boost hiring and wages at U.S. businesses in the second quarter, and companies are optimistic that the trends will continue this fall, according to a new survey by the National Association for Business Economics. Get the details at Inc.
Small-Business Optimism Pulls Back In June
After a three-month run that hit a post-recession high, a leading indicator of small-business growth fell a bit in June. The NFIB Optimism Index, from the National Federation of Independent Business, fell 1.6 points to 95. The index had risen to 96.6 in May, the the highest reading since September 2007. That level was still far below readings that …
Franchises Expected To Add 12% More Units, 220,000 More Jobs This Year
Demand for franchise units is expected to increase by more than 12 percent in 2014, the highest rate of increase since 2009, according to a new FranDATA analysis. And the International Franchise Association Business Outlook predicts that the franchise sector will lead the nation’s economic rebound by creating an estimated 220,000 jobs this year. “With seven out …