The Small Business Cash Flow Trend Report from OnDeck and Ocrolus is a new source of small business data that combines survey results with actual cash flow data. The report reveals that inflation remains a significant concern for small businesses, with 80% of respondents citing it as their top concern. The Census Bureau's Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS) also shows that business owners expect little moderation in prices, with the sharpest spikes seen among the smallest firm size categories. Small business optimism slightly increased towards the end of 2023, with the highest reading of 91.9 in the December Small Business Optimism Index from the NFIB and the highest reading of last year in July. Despite the challenges of 2023, three-quarters of businesses are optimistic about their 2024 finances, and 40% consider 2024 their "make or break" year. However, optimism differs according to business size, with smaller firms showing the healthiest assessment of themselves.