Small-business sentiment saw an improvement in August, but continued to remain depressed, according to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose by 1.9 points last month, to 91.8, data from a Sept. 13 press release showed. Though the index reversed some of the declines seen during the first half of the year, it remained below the 48-year average of 98 for the eighth consecutive month. Among survey respondents, 29 percent said that inflation was their single most important problem when it came to running their business.
“The small-business economy is still recovering from the pandemic, while inflation continues to be a serious problem for owners across the nation,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg….