Newtek Business Services Corp., The Small Business Authority, announced today the release of the SB Authority Index of small business indicators for May 2015 which reached 130.41 points.  The Russell Microcap Index, the ADP employment report and approved SBA lending volumes led the increase. The SB Authority Index is up 0.01% from April 2015.  On a year-over-year comparison, the SB Authority Index is up 2.35%.

Barry Sloane, Chairman, President and CEO of The Small Business Authority commented, "Beginning in 2009 when the economy bottomed, the biggest driver of economic growth for small business was lower interest rates produced by U.S. monetary policy, which drove robust recovery in equity prices and consumer spending. We are experiencing a trend where SB Authority Index increases are low to almost invisible; the May 2015 SB Authority Index increase is the lowest we've experienced in over 3 years. It appears that for small businesses, the benefit of a stock price boom and retail spending may be coming to an end."