US small business investment plans hit 17-year low

US small businesses are pulling back on investment plans as if the economy were in a crisis, according to a March survey. Only 16% of small businesses said they plan to invest in capital expenditures over the next six months, marking the lowest reading since November 2009. This figure represents a sharp 12-point decline since November 2025, signaling a significant loss of confidence among the nation's entrepreneurs. The data suggests a growing economic pessimism that could foreshadow a broader slowdown.