ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Nearly a year after Tropical Storm Helene swept through Western North Carolina, Asheville’s small businesses are still recovering from the storm’s economic toll, according to a new analysis by financial services firm Fiserv.
The city’s small businesses lost an estimated $563 million in sales from September 2024 through July 2025, the study found. Sales in 2025 remain about 12.5% below pre-storm levels.
Much of the decline came from service businesses, which dropped by about $483 million, while goods-related businesses lost another $80 million. Sectors closely tied to tourism saw the steepest losses: real estate (down $335 million), restaurants (down $160 million) and hotels (down $73 million)…