MNI BRIEF: Over 70% of US Small Biz See Negative Covid Impact

Over 70% of U.S. small firms said their businesses were negatively affected by the pandemic between March 15 and March 21, the Census Bureau said Thursday, roughly unchanged from the previous three weeks, with firms in the accommodation and food services sector and the arts, entertainment and recreation sector, hardest hit, the agency's latest weekly small business pulse survey shows. Those businesses were also more likely than others to say it'll take more than six months for a return to normal levels of operation.

Only 7.6% of businesses owners, predominately in retail and real estate, said they were being positively affected by the pandemic,, according to the Census data. Just over 20% of small businesses said they were not affected by the pandemic through Mar 21. That number has held steady after rising from 19% through February 21 to 20% through February 28.