Fiserv Small Business Sales Climb 0.7% YoY While Transactions Fall 2.4%
FISV•Fiserv’s Small Business Index held at 144 in May, with sales rising 0.7% year over year driven by a 3.1% increase in average ticket sizes while transactions dropped 2.4%. Month-over-month sales were flat and transactions dipped 0.2%, reflecting weakening consumer foot traffic.
1. May Small Business Index Overview
The Fiserv Small Business Index remained at 144 in May 2026, unchanged from April and benchmarked to 2019 levels. Year-over-year small business sales grew 0.7% while transaction volume fell 2.4%, driven by a 3.1% rise in average ticket sizes amid broader cost pressures.
2. Restaurant and Gas Station Trends
Restaurant sales declined 0.6% year over year but accelerated 0.6% from April, led by full-service outlets with 1.5% sales growth and stable foot traffic. Gas station sales surged 22.9% year over year and 1.2% month over month, reflecting elevated fuel prices boosting average tickets.
3. Retail, Essentials, Goods and Services
Total retail sales inched up 0.1% year over year but dipped 0.5% month over month, with core retail down 0.1% annually. Essentials grew 0.9% on a 4.3% ticket increase, goods sales edged up 0.1%, and services rose 1.0% year over year despite a 3.2% drop in transactions.
