According to Reuters on October 10, a report released by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) on the same day showed that US small business owners remain pessimistic about the business outlook due to concerns about inflation and persistent labor shortages.
According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the Small Business Optimism Index fell 0.5 percentage points to 90.8 in September, marking the 21st consecutive month that the index has been below the 49-year average of 98. Twenty-three percent of business owners say inflation is the most serious problem they face.
NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg said business owners remain pessimistic about business conditions, leading them to be less optimistic about the economy. Sales growth for small businesses has slowed, margins have been squeezed, and companies have no choice but to raise prices to ease financial pressures.