Government and Economy Quarterly Indicators: The Economy and Small Business In the fourth quarter of 2008, the U.S. economy suffered its worst decline since 1982 as real GDP fell by an annualized 3.8 percent. In 2008, the US lost 2.97 million jobs, more than half of them in the fourth quarter. These and other trends are discussed as they affect small business. RNC Chairman Steele Pushes for More Small Business Aid Not all jobs are created equal according to recently elected Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele, who argues that the Obama Administration in making work than in creating lasting jobs. He is pushing for more of the econo... [Read Full Article]

How many times has it happened? The day is winding down, there are no customers in the place and with your eye on the clock—longest ten minutes you ever saw—you figure you can get a jump on closing down by vacuuming or even counting down the till. Just then the door opens and in walks a man you’ve never seen before. You sigh as your fantasy of getting out of there right at closing evaporates. As you put on the company-approved customer service smile and ask if you can help this newcomer, your words slide right down the barrel of the gun he’s now pointing at you. You are being robbed, apparently by someone who didn’t hear that the city has a ban on handguns (I guess criminals don’t watch the news). In fact, 4.9% of all robberies are committed at the workplace, often with a firearm. Of course, that—along with the fact that it no longer really matters if your drawer balances—is all beside the point. You are being robbed. What are you going to do?&nbs... [Read Full Article]