Spending Trends

Small Business Federal Contract Spending Trends

Small Business Federal Contract Spending Trends shows how federal contract spending changes across the visible time series in FPDS-derived procurement data.

The latest visible point is 2025 at 30.35. Across the visible range, the series changed by 303,400.00%.

Federal Contract Spending Spending Trends Spending Series Series

Updated 03/20/2026

Latest Period
2025
30.35
Visible Change
303,400.00%
30.34
Peak Period
2006
70.87
Trend Direction
Up
Very Strong

Analysis

The latest visible point is 2025 at 30.35. Across the visible range, the series changed by 303,400.00%.

Why it matters: Use this page to evaluate how federal contract spending levels shift over time and identify inflection points.

Methodology: The query returns a structured time series, detects a period column and a primary numeric metric, and computes visible-series statistics such as latest value, peak, low, and overall change.

Commentary

Small Business Federal Contract Spending Trends tracks federal contract spending over time in FPDS-derived data.

Key takeaway: The latest visible point is 2025 at 30.35. Overall visible change is 303,400.00%.

Analyst note: This page is best used for directional review, turning points, and quick comparison against related time windows or scopes.

Trend Chart

This chart plots Federal Contract Spending over the visible time series returned by the query.

Query Used

-- Small Business Federal Contract Spending Trends
SELECT
    fiscal_year,
    round(sum(obligated_amount) / 1000000000, 2) AS spending_billion_usd,
    count() AS award_count,
    round(sum(obligated_amount) / count(), 0) AS avg_award_size
FROM
(
    SELECT
        if(
            toUInt8(substring(content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate, 6, 2)) >= 10,
            toUInt16(substring(content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate, 1, 4)) + 1,
            toUInt16(substring(content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate, 1, 4))
        ) AS fiscal_year,
        content__award__dollarValues__obligatedAmount AS obligated_amount
    FROM fpds.data
    WHERE
        contract_type = 1
        AND content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate != ''
        AND content__award__vendor__vendorSiteDetails__vendorSocioEconomicIndicators__isSmallBusiness = 1
)
WHERE fiscal_year < toYear(today())
GROUP BY fiscal_year
ORDER BY fiscal_year ASC

Trend Table

This table shows the structured time series returned by the query.

Fiscal Year Spending Billion Usd Award Count Avg Award Size
1978 0.01 1 10000000
1979 13.25 137035 96695
1980 15.09 179525 84078
1981 19.51 177405 110006
1982 22.46 206446 108830
1983 21.13 156334 135169
1984 23.78 163888 145146
1985 25.29 176876 143018
1986 26.37 171354 153922
1987 26.32 175567 149937
1988 25.34 161256 157202
1989 23.41 145902 160492
1990 25.64 175606 146054
1991 28.28 203298 139149
1992 27.13 243707 111339
1993 25.58 207049 123550
1994 27.65 218002 126867
1995 31.93 243049 131378
1996 32.66 283933 115037
1997 31.40 212351 147875
1998 33.11 210206 157518
1999 34.04 216891 156953
2000 36.62 235487 155517
2001 39.43 257044 153411
2002 48.31 329365 146690
2003 54.39 483160 112575
2004 56.72 872784 64992
2005 64.12 1169496 54831
2006 70.87 1672203 42383
2007 50.54 942685 53621
2008 48.38 667348 72502
2009 15.68 101628 154303
2010 16.28 105608 154194
2011 15.08 120601 125056
2012 15.96 143474 111246
2013 10.74 130177 82554
2014 11.48 125562 91497
2015 12.16 203842 59657
2016 14.47 254762 56828
2017 16.41 266848 61532
2018 18.60 276968 67191
2019 21.06 414104 50863
2020 22.95 417020 55040
2021 22.50 399105 56393
2022 24.82 442666 56080
2023 27.81 465038 59811
2024 29.56 461862 64006
2025 30.35 457488 66361

How This Trend Is Built

Measure how a selected procurement metric changes across time.

Query structure

  • The query selects a time dimension used as the x-axis for the trend.
  • It calculates or returns a numeric metric for each visible period.
  • The result is interpreted as a chronological series for trend analysis.
  • The metric focuses on obligated dollars or a directly related spending aggregate.

Included fields

  • fiscal_year — Defines the chronological unit used for the trend series.
  • spending_billion_usd — Defines the main value plotted and analyzed over time.
  • award_count — Provides additional numeric context that can support interpretation.
  • avg_award_size — Provides additional numeric context that can support interpretation.

How to use this trend

  • trend direction analysis
  • time-series review
  • federal procurement timing analysis
  • spending trajectory review
  • budget pattern review

Computed Metrics

Series Points
48
First Visible Point
1978
0.01
Mean
27.81
Median
25.46
Max
70.87
2006
Min
0.01
1978
Volatility
14.18
14.18
Rows Returned
48

Series Extremes

Largest Increase
13.24
1978 → 1979 · 132,400.00%
Largest Decrease
-32.7
2008 → 2009 · -67.59%

Related Pages

Method Notes

  • Trend interpretation is based on the returned query result set ordered by the detected period column.
  • Change metrics compare the first visible point and the latest visible point in the series.
  • Volatility is based on the standard deviation of the visible numeric series.

Use FPDS Query for deeper trend analysis

Go beyond the published time series with custom SQL, broader filters, saved queries, and deeper procurement analysis across agencies, vendors, industries, states, contract structures, and competitive segments.

Continue from this trend page into full FPDS Query workflows with deeper filtering, custom SQL, saved queries, and broader market comparison.