Business Inflation Expectations up to 1.7%

• Inflation expectations: Firms' year-ahead inflation expectations increased somewhat to 1.7 percent, on average.
• Current economic environment: Sales levels and profit margins "compared to normal" improved over the month but remain at historically low levels. Year-over-year unit cost growth remains at 1.2 percent, on average.
• Quarterly question: Firms' long-term (per year, over the next five to 10 years) inflation expectations went relatively unchanged at 2.5 percent, on average.
• Special question: Firms indicated whether they requested federal financial assistance. They then provided a breakdown of which programs they applied to, which programs they received funds from, and how much they expect to have to repay. A breakdown of the results can be found in the special question section below.