U.S. Small Business Optimism Falls to a Seven-Month Low
- Measure of future business conditions fell to worst since 2012
- Record share of respondents plan to raise wages, prices: NFIB
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Sentiment among U.S. small businesses edged down in October as owners’ views of future economic conditions slumped amid continuing supply-chain and hiring challenges.
The National Federation of Independent Business optimism index slipped to 98.2 from 99.1, the lowest since March, the group said Tuesday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for an increase to 99.5. Plans for capital expenditures was the only component of 10 to improve, but such spending remains “anemic” relative to recent economic growth, NFIB said.