Sharp Regional Differences Revealed in Small‑Business Impact from Storm 

Winter Storm Fern triggered a sharp Friday stock‑up surge, followed by severe weekend restaurant declines— the worst happening in Southern ice‑hit states. Northeastern sales stayed depressed into Monday as heavy snow and extreme cold slowed recovery. The divide reflects ice‑driven hazards and outages in the South versus plowable snow up North, showing storm‑ready markets fared better than rarely impacted Southern metros. 

Highlights:

• The storm caused a significant demand pull‑forward.
• Southern metros were hit hardest.
• Outlets remained open, but consumers stayed home.

Disclaimer: Small businesses are identified per the Small Business Administration definitions and extrapolated to reflect total U.S. sales and distribution. This report does not represent Fiserv financial performance.