Fiserv Small Business Index Holds Steady in August Amid Resilient Consumer Spending and Spending Caution

The Fiserv Small Business Index for August 2025 held steady at 149, with year-over-year sales and transactions growing 3.9% and 3.7%, respectively. Resilient consumer spending continued, but average ticket sizes fell -1.5% compared to July. Restaurants saw growth in sales and foot traffic, while retail sales and foot traffic were steady month-over-month, but inflation-adjusted sales fell -1.4% year-over-year. Wholesale trade sales slipped -0.3% month-over-month, driven by a drop in transactions and a rise in average ticket sizes.

The Fiserv Small Business Index for August 2025 remained unchanged at 149, reflecting a steady performance in the small business sector. Despite a slight dip in average ticket sizes, year-over-year sales and transactions grew by 3.9% and 3.7%, respectively, underscoring the resilience of consumer spending [1][2].

Key takeaways from the report include:

- Restaurants: Sales and foot traffic surged, with quick service restaurants (QSRs) leading the growth, up by 8.3% year-over-year [1][2].
- Retail: Sales and foot traffic remained stable month-over-month, but inflation-adjusted sales declined by 1.4% year-over-year, indicating a contracting trend [1][2].
- Wholesale Trade: Sales slipped by 0.3% month-over-month, driven by a 2.5% drop in transactions and a 2.3% increase in average ticket sizes, possibly due to tariff-related pressure [1][2].

Discretionary spending rose by 1.2% month-over-month, led by QSRs and budget-friendly entertainment, while essential spending fell by 1.5%. Goods sales shifted toward a 0.6% increase, while services sales declined by 0.5% [1][2].

The Fiserv Small Business Index, derived from point-of-sale transaction data, provides a reliable measure of consumer spending and customer traffic within the U.S. small business ecosystem [1][2].

References:
[1] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/FI/fiserv-small-business-index-holds-steady-in-august-as-consumer-cy8bgb9jega4.html
[2] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/fiserv-small-business-index-holds-steady-in-august-as-consumer-resilience-meets-spending-caution-ce7c50d3de8bf522