Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty ImagesThe reading marks a third straight increase, yet the rate of improvement has slowed.See more stories on Insider's business pageA popular measure of small business activity improved in the first quarter, but underlying components suggest the segment's recovery has a long road ahead.
Components of the headline number also flashed a few warning signs. Roughly 76% of surveyed businesses remain concerned about the coronavirus's impact on their business. The same share said they're concerned about their business's finances. Outlooks also suffered at the local level. Roughly 43% of businesses said they view their local economy as poor, up from 32% in the previous report.
MetLife and the Chamber of Commerce surveyed small businesses between January 14 and January 27 for their first-quarter report. Daily new virus cases had peaked earlier that month before plummeting into the spring. The survey period also took place about one week after armed insurrectionists stormed the Capitol and sparked a new bout of national unrest. New stimulus was in the works, but Democrats had yet to hold any votes on their $1.9 trillion plan.