JUNE 2025 INDUSTRY NEWS AND TRENDS
American small businesses see a recession ahead
A new quarterly survey of small businesses conducted by CNBC and SurveyMonkey revealed that the majority of business owners are pessimistic about the economy. According to the survey, only 30% of business owners rate the current state of the economy as excellent or good.
Survey respondents were equally pessimistic about the future, with 51% expecting changes in trade policy to have a negative effect on their business during the next 12 months.
High-propensity business applications send a positive economic signal
Amid negative indicators, such as declining consumer confidence, that suggest a faltering economy, one positive economic trend is telling a different story.
The most recent data on high-propensity businesses (businesses with a higher likelihood of supporting employees and payroll) show that applications for this business type are rising significantly.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau collected in April, applications for high-propensity businesses reached a record high, with 161,601 high-propensity businesses submitting applications in March 2025.
MAMFA promises to give American manufacturers more access to capital
A new piece of bipartisan legislation could help to revitalize American manufacturing by doubling loan limits for manufacturing companies. The Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act (MAMFA) raises loan limits from $5 million to $10 million, which could enable manufacturers to purchase equipment, expand operations and hiring, and scale their businesses more rapidly.
The goal of this legislation is to support American industry and highlight the importance of American manufacturing to supply chain strength, national security, and the economy.
Growth slows for transportation and logistics industry
Truist, a commercial bank and financial services company, has published its latest market update on the transportation and logistics market. Amid tariffs, interest rate cuts, and declining consumer confidence, the trucking market is seeing flat linehaul spot rates, contracting trucking capacity, and declining trucking employment. Similarly, industrial warehousing is seeing increasing vacancy rates and slow growth. For maritime transportation, a new executive order is invigorating the industry with funding and financial incentives.
