TrendsOct 03, 2025
Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco Tie the Knot Wearing Diamonds, White MetalsGomez’s jewelry included Tiffany & Co. drop-style earrings while Blanco stacked diamonds from Jacob & Co. on his wrist.
SurveysDec 13, 2016
Small Business Optimism Reaches 8-Year High
Small business owners are the most optimistic they’ve been since January 2008 due in large part to expected improvements in finances in the year ahead.
San Francisco--Small business owners are the most optimistic they’ve been since the recession started, according to a recent study from Wells Fargo and Gallup.
In the quarterly Small Business Index survey, Wells Fargo and Gallup question small business owners across the nation in order to gauge their perceptions of their present situation and future expectations for the next 12 months in six key areas: financial situation, cash flow, revenues, capital spending allocation, hiring and credit availability. The answers then are used to calculate the overall index score.
Wells Fargo and Gallup conducted the most recent survey from Nov. 11 to 17, finding that the overall index had increased to 80 in November. This is a 12-point increase compared with July and a 26-point increased compared with a year ago, and marks the highest optimism reading since January 2008.
It also represents the largest quarterly increase in the index in a year.
Wells Fargo said a major driver behind the optimism is how business owners feel about the year ahead; 45 percent indicated that they expect the operating environment to be better for business in 2017.
Many of the small business owners surveyed also said they expect their finances to improve next year.
Other key findings from the study are as follows.
• More than half (58 percent) expect revenue to increase a little or a lot in the next 12 months, up from the 48 percent who said the same thing in July.
• Meanwhile, 70 percent believe their cash flow will be somewhat or very good in the next 12 months. This is up from 65 percent in July.
• More than one-third (35 percent) said they plan to increase capital spending a lot or a little.
• Thirty-six percent expect the number of jobs at their company to increase a little or a lot over the next year. Wells Fargo said this is the highest reading for this factor in the 13-year history of the survey.
In the survey, small business owners also were asked about their priorities for President-elect Donald Trump and the incoming Congress.
Eighty-one percent of small business owners said they wanted them to focus on changes to the tax code, tax regulation and tax rates for small businesses. Other top issues include actions relating to healthcare and the current healthcare law (76 percent), overall action on government regulations impacting small business owners (70 percent), and actions that could
impact oil prices or energy costs (59 percent).
When asked what the new administration could do to help small businesses grow, 90 percent said improving the economy overall was at the top, followed by reducing taxes on small businesses (81 percent) and simplifying the tax code as it pertains to small businesses (78 percent).
Slightly more than half (51 percent) of small business owners think that the new president and Congress will take actions next year to make their businesses better off, while 17 percent think their businesses will be worse off and 26 percent think their actions will have no effect.
These results are similar to what National Jeweler/Jewelers of America found in its latest Business Pulse survey, which focused on the election.
Consumer confidence
In addition to the surge in optimism among small business owners, the University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment also showed that consumer confidence has skyrocketed following the election.
In early December, consumer confidence climbed to 98 on the index, just one-tenth of a point below the 2015 peak, which was the highest level since the start of 2004. The university said this was largely due to consumers’ initial reactions to Trump’s victory.
The university also said in its results that when asked what news they had heard of recent economic developments, “more consumers spontaneously mentioned the expected positive impact of new economic policies than ever before recorded in the long history of the surveys.”
Though just as many offered negative opinions about prospective economic policies, the frequency of those negative references was less than half their prior peak levels, whereas positive references were about twice their prior peak.
When asked what the new administration could do to help small businesses grow, 90 percent said improving the economy overall was at the top, followed by reducing taxes on small businesses (81 percent) and simplifying the tax code as it pertains to small businesses (78 percent).
Slightly more than half (51 percent) of small business owners think that the new president and Congress will take actions next year to make their businesses better off, while 17 percent think their businesses will be worse off and 26 percent think their actions will have no effect.
These results are similar to what National Jeweler/Jewelers of America found in its latest Business Pulse survey, which focused on the election.
Consumer confidence
In addition to the surge in optimism among small business owners, the University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment also showed that consumer confidence has skyrocketed following the election.
In early December, consumer confidence climbed to 98 on the index, just one-tenth of a point below the 2015 peak, which was the highest level since the start of 2004. The university said this was largely due to consumers’ initial reactions to Trump’s victory.
The university also said in its results that when asked what news they had heard of recent economic developments, “more consumers spontaneously mentioned the expected positive impact of new economic policies than ever before recorded in the long history of the surveys.”
Though just as many offered negative opinions about prospective economic policies, the frequency of those negative references was less than half their prior peak levels, whereas positive references were about twice their prior peak.
More on Surveys
The Latest
GradingOct 03, 2025
Grading Lab HRD Antwerp Names New CEODiamond industry banking veteran Paul De Wachter will take on the role in January 2026.
TrendsOct 03, 2025
Piece of the Week: Kallati’s Pink Sapphire RingTaylor Swift flaunts an Elizabeth Taylor-esque gemstone in promo for her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”
CollectionsOct 02, 2025
Boucheron Debuts Cuffs Crafted With 3D-Printed SandIts “Quantre Sand” capsule was made using a 3D sand printing technique borrowed from the automotive and aeronautics industries.
Weekly QuizOct 02, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CrimeOct 02, 2025
$1M in Jewelry Stolen in Northern California Smash and Grab Four individuals have been charged in the “takeover-style” robbery of Heller Jewelers last month, and additional charges are expected.
MajorsOct 02, 2025
Neil Lane Jewelry Exhibition Coming to Toledo Museum of Art“Radiance and Reverie” will showcase more than 150 jewels from Lane’s personal collection by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and more.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
TrendsOct 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: October’s Colorful ShowThe month’s birthstones, tourmaline and opal, complement the palette of autumn.
ColumnistsOct 01, 2025
Peter Smith: Why Vendor Success Starts With Self-ReflectionSmith shares the importance of looking at your company with openness and honesty to identify opportunities you may be missing.
EditorsOct 01, 2025
Playing Favorites: The Best Jewelry From VicenzaoroAssociate Editor Natalie Francisco visited Italy to spot jewelry trends at the September Vicenzaoro show and share her top finds.
SourcingOct 01, 2025
Gemfields’ H1 Revenue Falls 47%Its latest interim financials revealed a challenging first half due in part to production troubles at its mines.
MajorsSep 30, 2025
Pandora CEO to Retire in 2026, Hand Reins to CMO Alexander Lacik has led Pandora since 2019. Berta de Pablos-Barbier will succeed him, the first woman to head the company.
CrimeSep 30, 2025
2 Suspects Charged in $300K Sleight-of-Hand Jewelry Store ScamTwo men allegedly used counterfeit bills to purchase luxury watches and jewelry from a North Carolina jeweler.
CollectionsSep 30, 2025
Billie Eilish, Finneas Partner with John HardyThe “Lovestruck” collection, designed with the Academy and Grammy award-winning siblings, is the brand’s first lab-grown diamond offering.
IndependentsSep 30, 2025
Spinelli Kilcollin Announces Residency in DallasThe brand, celebrating its 15th anniversary, has popped up at Market, a luxury fashion destination in Highland Park Village.
IndependentsSep 29, 2025
Nina Pugliese, Longtime Henne Jewelers Employee, Dies at 65She was remembered as a creative and generous woman of faith, who also had a sweet tooth.
TrendsSep 29, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Ear FocusMove over neck mess, the ear story is the way to make a layering statement today.
IndependentsSep 29, 2025
Mark Henry Jewelry to Debut in CanadaThe New York-based brand is set to launch a limited-time offering for the holiday season at Holt Renfrew in Toronto.
MajorsSep 29, 2025
Overnight Releases New Bridal CatalogThe “Volume 7” bridal catalog features best-selling engagement rings, trending styles, and a new section highlighting anniversary bands.
Events & AwardsSep 26, 2025
Winners of Austin Jewelry Design Contest Announced Jamie Turner Designs is among the winners of the local “Austin Shines” contest, hosted by Eliza Page, a jewelry store in Austin, Texas.
TrendsSep 26, 2025
Piece of the Week: Kwit Jewelry’s Square Signet Pinky RingThe red and azure colorway is one of many fun enamel pairings offered, bringing whimsy to the classic style of a monogramed signet ring.
Policies & IssuesSep 25, 2025
JA CEO Provides Tariff Update Following Annual Fly-InA trade deal with Switzerland seems probable, but reaching an agreement with India remains a challenge, David Bonaparte said.
SourcingSep 25, 2025
2 African Countries Aim to Take Stake in De Beers Botswana’s president said his country wants a controlling share, while Angola envisions multiple countries holding minority stakes.
Lab-GrownSep 25, 2025
Kira Jewels Expands Lab-Grown Diamond ProductionThe manufacturer is adding 1,400 chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors to its growing facility in India.
IndependentsSep 25, 2025
Alex Moss’ New Flagship Brings Bold Jewels to SoHoThe jeweler to the stars has worked with Drake, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, and other celebrities.
WatchesSep 25, 2025
Wilson & Son Jewelers Donates to the Horological Society of New YorkThe Scarsdale, New York-based jeweler donated a professional-grade watch cleaning machine.
