Progress follows winter weather, although small businesses struggle

SHORT HILLS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- D&B (NYSE:DNB), the world's leading source of commercial information and insight on businesses, today announced an estimated 197,000 new non-farm jobs were added to U.S. payrolls in March, according to its U.S. Economic Health Tracker. This report provides a monthly, multi-dimensional perspective on the U.S. economy, including small business health, total job growth, and overall U.S. business health.

U.S. businesses added jobs at a stronger pace in March 2014, driven by significant employment gains in the construction, business services, and trade, transportation and utilities segments. At the same time, D&B's Small Business Health Index modestly declined as small businesses in all major industries deteriorated in spite of improving payment performance. However, overall U.S. business health continued to improve during March, signaling a lower risk of overall business failure.

"We are closely tracking the subdued performance of the economic expansion in the first quarter and need to examine the temporary impact triggered by severe winter storms," said Paul Ballew, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, D&B. "On the upside we continue to see balance sheet improvements in the private sector giving us hope for a smoother recovery heading into the spring and summer months."

Ballew will host a briefing webinar and conference call to discuss D&B's monthly economic perspective at 8:30 AM EDT on April 1, 2014.

March 2014 Highlights

View the D&B U.S. Economic Health Tracker Infographic at www.dnb.com/tracker.

Small Business Health Index D&B's Small Business Health Index declined modestly, although small businesses saw improvement in on-time credit card and bill payments.
U.S. Jobs Health D&B estimates 197,000 new non-farm payroll jobs were added to U.S. payrolls in March 2014, with strong gains in construction, business services, and trade/transportation/utilities.
U.S. Business Health U.S. business health improved 5 percent year-over-year in March 2014, the highest recorded level since the index began in December 2010.

About D&B's U.S. Economic Health Tracker

This forward-looking perspective on the U.S. economy offers insights and monthly data using three macro indicators:

  • Small Business Health Index, the foremost leading indicator on the overall health of this critically important sector. The index is based on a number of proprietary indicators including credit usage and overall business performance.
  • U.S. Jobs Health, utilizing D&B's comprehensive proprietary measures, we are providing a forecast of new, non-farm payroll jobs added across key verticals such as manufacturing, retail, real estate, construction, business services, transportation, and utilities.
  • U.S. Business Health Index, a comprehensive measure on the overall health of businesses in the US. The index leverages three D&B advanced analytic products (D&B's Viability Score™, D&B Delinquency Predictor™, and D&B Total Loss Predictor™) and provides a holistic view of the current and future health of all active businesses.

D&B will publish its monthly U.S. Economic Health Tracker on the first Tuesday morning of most months, issuing a public advisory one week in advance to confirm pending announcement date. Reporting periods will reflect the most current and complete month. For example, information contained in the April 1, 2014 report is based on data available as of March 28, 2014.

Other information, including the 2014 planned publishing schedule, FAQs, and archived reports can be accessed at www.dnb.com/tracker. Follow D&B Economic Insight daily on Twitter at @DnBEconomy.

About Dun & Bradstreet® (D&B)

The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation is the world's leading source of commercial data, analytics and insight on businesses, or "content." Our global commercial database contains more than 230 million business records. We transform commercial data into valuable insight which is the foundation of our global solutions that customers rely on to make critical business decisions.

D&B provides solution sets that meet a diverse set of customer needs globally. Customers use D&B Risk Management Solutions™ to mitigate credit and supplier risk, increase cash flow and drive increased profitability, and D&B Sales & Marketing Solutions™ to provide data management capabilities that provide effective and cost efficient marketing solutions to increase revenue from new and existing customers. For more information, please visit www.dnb.com or follow @DnBUS.

Media:
Porter Novelli
Wayne Roberts, 404-995-4533 (direct) / 404-276-3305 (mobile)
wayne.roberts@porternovelli.com
or
Investor Relations:
Dun & Bradstreet
Roger Sachs, CFA, 973-921-5914
sachsr@DNB.com

Source: D&B

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