Overall, index gains indicates small businesses may be emerging despite choppy economic waters. While we are cautiously optimistic for a stronger second half of the year, small business owners face a protracted economic recovery and the impact from the recent federal government shutdown.

1. D&B Small Business Health Index
www.dnb.com
October 2013
March 2013
D&B’s monthly Small Business Health Index rose 0.8
percent to an overall index value of 96.2 in August
2013, the first upturn since February. The improvement
reverses several months of sluggish small business sector
performance, largely driven by strong gains in Business
Small Business Health Index: Overall
120
100
80
0.8
60
points
to 99.4), and Personal Services (up 1.2 percent to 95.2).
gu
Services (up 2.8 percent to 109.9), Retail (up 1.8 percent
st
What’s driving the US
s
mall business sector?
Au
40
Only the Automotive segment declined in August
(down 0.8 percent to 95.3). Although the Index has
20
shown small signs of optimism over the summer months,
the across-the-board gains in August suggests small
0
businesses may be standing on more solid fiscal ground
Dec 04
heading into the fourth quarter.
Dec 06
Dec 08
Dec 10
August 13
Source: DB Global Data, Insights Analytics
Fewer Small Businesses Fail
Fewer Small Businesses Fail
More On-Time Payments
More On-Time Payments
160
160
140
140
155
155
125
125
150
150
110
110
145
145
95
95
140
140
80
80
May 2013
May 2013
June 2013
June 2013
July 2013
July 2013
Aug 2013
Aug 2013
May 2013
May 2013
June 2013
June 2013
July 2013
July 2013
Aug 2013
Aug 2013
Fewer small businesses closed their doors in August,
More small businesses paid their bills on time in August.
evidenced by improvement in the DB Failure Ratio
The DB Payment Delinquency index improved 1.7
index (up 0.3 percent to 141.1). This marked the first
percent to 118.7.
upward movement since March.
Credit Card Delinquency Improves
Credit Card Delinquency Improves
Credit Card Use Declines
Credit Card Use Declines

2. 145
145
95
95
140
140
80
80
May 2013
May 2013
June 2013
June 2013
July 2013
July 2013
Aug 2013
Aug 2013
May 2013
May 2013
June 2013
June 2013
July 2013
July 2013
Aug 2013
Aug 2013
www.dnb.com
October 2013
Credit Card Use Declines
Credit Card Use Declines
Credit Card Delinquency Improves
Credit Card Delinquency Improves
50
50
81
81
48
48
80
80
46
46
79
79
44
44
78
78
42
42
77
77
May 2013
May 2013
June 2013
June 2013
July 2013
July 2013
Aug 2013
Aug 2013
May 2013
May 2013
June 2013
June 2013
July 2013
July 2013
Aug 2013
Aug 2013
A 0.7 percent improvement in the DB Credit Card
Small businesses were less dependent on credit cards in
Delinquency index (to a value of 46.1) suggests more
August, signaling potentially greater access to traditional
small businesses are paying their credit card bills on time.
forms of credit. Consequently, the DB Credit Card
Utilization index improved 0.5 percent to 79.
What can we expect for small businesses?
Overall, Index gains indicate small businesses may be emerging despite choppy
economic waters. While we are cautiously optimistic for a stronger second half
of the year, small business owners face a protracted economic recovery and the
impact from the recent federal government shutdown.
What is the Small Business Health Index?
DB’s monthly Small Business Health Index (SBHI) measures
small business health through payment patterns, failure
rates, and credit utilization. The SBHI follows a sampling of
all active small businesses with fewer than 100 employees
and combines pro- and counter-cyclical elements to provide
a simple, representative number. Using 2004 as the base year
(Index value 100), improvement is designated by an Index
value above 100.
DB’s informed perspective puts the future in focus, helping you protect,
grow, and empower your business. To learn more, visit www.dnb.com
© Dun Bradstreet, Inc. 2013. All rights reserved. (DB-3648 10/13)