Newtek Business Services Corp., The Small Business Authority, announced today the release of the SB Authority Index of small business indicators for August 2015 which reached 131.16 points.  New entity formation, Newtek Merchant Processing and the Russell Microcap Index led the increase. The SB Authority Index is up 0.15% from July 2015.  On a year-over-year comparison, the SB Authority Index is up 1.82%.

Barry Sloane, Chairman, President and CEO of The Small Business Authority commented, "Although we continue to analyze the monthly trends in the small business economy, there appears to be a regular long-term pattern and trend of slow to no growth. Our Index for 2015, however, is pointing to a trend towards no growth rather than slow growth. Some of the engines of the past such as an upper trajectory equity market and higher levels of consumer spending have begun to be less stimulative as the 5-year Federal Reserve policy of zero interest rates is losing its effect. We are guiding our small business clientele to finding gains and efficiencies through upgrades in software, hardware and risk reduction to improve their bottom line performance."