Uncertainty among U.S. small business owners surged in January, with the NFIB Uncertainty Index rising 14 points to 100. Optimism dipped slightly, with the Small Business Optimism Index at 102.8, above the historical average. Challenges persist in hiring, inflation, and cautious capital investment, as labor quality and inflation were top concerns, according to NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg.
Uncertainty among U.S. small business owners surged in January, with the NFIB Uncertainty Index rising 14 points to 100. Optimism dipped slightly, with the Small Business Optimism Index at 102.8, above the historical average. Challenges persist in hiring, inflation, and cautious capital investment, as labor quality and inflation were top concerns, according to NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg.