US Small Business Pessimism
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index for September 2023 hits a low at 90.8. Business owners are troubled by inflation and labor quality. Coupled with declining expectations for better business conditions and slowing sales growth, a sense of pessimism looms.
The key highlights of the report from the National Federation of Independent Business are as follows:
📉 Small Business Optimism: NFIB Index drops to 90.8 in September 2023, a four-month low.
👇 Decline from August: Down from 91.3, missing the market forecast of 91.4.
💸 Top Concerns: 23% of owners cite inflation, tying with labor quality as primary worries.
👎 Future Expectations: Anticipation of better business conditions in the next six months falls by six points to -43%.
😕 Pessimism Prevails: Owners express pessimism about future business conditions, impacting overall economic optimism.
📉 Sales Growth Slowdown: Small businesses experience a slowdown in sales growth.
💰 Financial Squeeze: Bill Dunk…