that's what nfib's mission has been over the past year. it's long been our mission for 77 years to help small business owners and advocate on behalf of their interest to own, protect, and grow their businesses. we've especially had a focus on our core mission and helping small businesses during the pandemic. i'm going to encourage you to email info@nfib.com we've been responding to questions at that inbox and we would love to learn more about your situation and how we may be able to help. we recommend you visit nfib.com. you can find our coronavirus resources to provide more information about these programs. i know it's a lot but the good news is that there are options. the problem is that the more options there are the more computing it gets. -- confusing it gets. this program is tate -- catered towards separate businesses. we recognize many businesses are still suffering and we want to be a resource for businesses to help them get through the pandemic and grow and thrive. host: paul is next from texas. good morning to you. caller: i was

charles: and to your point, the nfib survey the day after president trump was elected rocketed higherit set a record that november. so there was a big sigh of relief, heather, from the business community. so where do we go from here? again, like i told steve, we know there there aren't going to be the same high-level paying jobs in the so-called renewable space where maybe you could be a bus driver driving a natural gas bus and you'll check the box, but it's not the same as news amazing quality jobs that could go away. >> absolutely. and you know what's even further devastating to small business, it's that minimum wage hike buried within the covid relief bill. on the one hand, you're providing government tens of billions of dollars in assistance to small businesses, and on the other hand, you're making it un affordable for them to cover their payroll. over 25% of employees make less than $15 an hour, and while it sounds like a great idea to increase minimum wage, we want people to make more money across the board, it's a high bar to set because $15 an hour in new york, for example, is

that's what nfib's mission has been over the past year.s long been our mission for 77 years to help small business owners and advocate on behalf of their interest to own, protect, and grow their businesses. we've especially had a focus on our core mission and helping small businesses during the pandemic. i'm going to encourage you to email info@nfib.com we've been responding to questions at that inbox and we would love to learn more about your situation and how we may be able to help. we recommend you visit nfib.com. you can find our coronavirus resources to provide more information about these programs. i know it's a lot but the good news is that there are options. the problem is that the more options there are the more computing it gets. -- confusing it gets. this program is tate -- catered towards separate businesses. we recognize many businesses are still suffering and we want to be a resource for businesses to help them get through the pandemic and grow and thrive. host: paul is next from texas. good morning to you. caller: i was just

one of my favorite indicators is the small business nfib. it dropped like a stone, but you also saw prices paid increase, the outlook for 2021 is not so great, and that seems very much like a stimulus story. that's where the impeachment conversation could come into play. does it interrupt the vaccine distribution and stimulus conversation? if it does, that is how we see the filter out into the markets and into the real economy. guy: let's bring mr. connors back into that conversation. what is your perception of what is going on here? stimulus all wha -- stimulus obviously very important to the market. there's an expectation that we will see a big effect into the economy. but impeachment could get in the way. is politics going to interrupt that trade? mark: we have seen politics interrupt things in the past, but your point about the stimulus was a good one. the major pivot points in the market have been around stimulus. reopening --ine excuse me, reopening or stimulus. right now, what is pushing the market is more retail than institutional. l

the monthly index from the national federation of independent business fell down 5.5 points the nfibnce of the pandemic and the impact of restrictions to contain it. >>> poultry producers, tyson foods and pilgrim's pride struck separate deals with poultry buyers to settle price fixing allegations. the two companies and others have been accused of colluding to keep chicken prices artificially high. >>> organizers of the detroit auto show are shifting gears this year to deal with the pandemic the show, which usually takes place at a convention center in downtown detroit, will instead be held outdoors at a racetrack in nearby pontiac, michigan. it's scheduled for september. >>> eli lilly surging about 14% after its alzheimer's drug shows promise in a small trial lilly ceo david ricks will join us after this break from the jpmorgan health care conference. >>> "squawk box" will be right back my retirement plan with voya keeps me moving forward... even after paying for this. love you, sweetheart. they guide me with achievable steps that give me confidence. this is my granddaughter...she's