I've been asking a lot of business owners what their outlook on the economy looks like right now.
Overall, most are cautious. They think tariffs and the war are driving costs up 30% or more in some categories. Or they've seen discount requests triple this year in the wealthiest zip codes they serve. Or they're seeing banks micromanage construction financing like they're more scared than the developers.
A few think we've been in a middling recession since 2022. Others think we're in a vibes economy right now.
Even still, most of their businesses are still growing just fine. Though I do wonder if it's just the people in ScalePath and my network.
This tracks with what I've been hearing in peer group conversations about business owner anxiety. There's definitely been a tonal shift over the last few months.
Would be curious to hear other people's opinions and observations.
Here's the bottom line: business owners are cautious but still moving forward. Costs are up, banks are nervous, and discount requests are climbing in wealthy areas. But growth hasn't stopped for most.
The disconnect between sentiment and actual performance is worth watching. It might tell us more about where things are headed than any single economic indicator.
Drop me a line and tell me what you're seeing in your market.
