MERISTEM INSIGHTS

Flattening the curve is crucial from a health care perspective so as to not overwhelm the hospital system. It too is paramount to small businesses that we reach peak cases soon so we can prudently reopen the economy. Businesses with less than 500 people account for 48% of the U.S. workforce and 43% of GDP. The longer they are shuttered, the greater the risk they may not make it through this crisis. Smaller businesses often operate with little cash to buffer against crises and the chart below highlights that approximately half of them can only last two months in the current economic backdrop.

Source: Bloomberg, NFIB

The U.S. government has acted quickly with unprecedented amounts of stimulus to provide a lifeline and stem the coming fallout. Time is of the essence. We need a quick read of both traditional and alternative information sources to determine how efficiently programs like the CARES Act are reaching companies. The future of many small businesses depends on it.

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