A mixed message in the March small business confidence numbers from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

On one hand the retail, hospitality and tourism markets are dong very well, but other sectors of the economy, like natural resources, agriculture and transportation that are taking the biggest hits.

Of the 699 members they talked to in March, only 26.5-percent feel their businesses will grow over the next 12 months.

CFIB Alberta Director Amber Ruddy says falling profits and rising costs are forcing some businesses to make tough choices.

"Within the next three months, about a third of small businesses are looking to lay off (workers). And that's a very unfortunately statistic because they're left with no other choice."

Ruddy says a promised provincial small business tax cut is a good start, but she's hoping for more in the upcoming provincial budget.

This is the fourth straight month the small business confidence index has dropped in Alberta.

Some of the data from the CFIB release:

Sixty-nine per cent of entrepreneurs list insufficient domestic demand as the top limitation for their business, the same as previous month.

Small business hiring plans are relatively unchanged in March with 34 per cent of owners saying they will reduce their full-time workforce, down one point from February.

Thirteen per cent say they intend to hire, up three points from the previous month.

On a scale between 0 and 100, an index above 50 means owners expecting their business’ performance to be stronger in the next year outnumber those expecting weaker performance.

Normally, the economy is growing at its potential when the index level of between 65 and 75.

“As the provincial budget approaches, entrepreneurs expect the Notley Government will ease up on their detrimental economic agenda. Now is not the time to impose risky new policy experiments on our fragile economy,” said Ruddy.

Sixty-three per cent of small businesses in Alberta cite tax and regulatory costs as a major cost constraint, down five points from February. “Signals from the Premier that small business taxes are being cut in the April budget is a sensible first step toward recovery,” said Ruddy.

The national Business Barometer index is 52.3.

The provincial numbers were: Nova Scotia (65.8), Quebec (65.0), British Columbia (62.5), PEI (59.1), Ontario (57.0), Manitoba (54.8), New Brunswick (53.2), Newfoundland & Labrador (47.1), and Saskatchewan (47.0).

March, 2016 findings are based on 699 responses, collected from a stratified random sample of CFIB members, to a controlled-access web survey.

Data reflect responses received through March 21.

Findings are considered accurate to +\- 3.7 per cent 19 times in 20.