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US NFIB small business economic trends
The Optimism Index fell by 2.5 points in August to 91.2, erasing all of July’s gain. This is the 32nd consecutive month below the 50-year average of 98. The last time the Optimism Index was at or above the average of 98 was December 2021. Of the 10 Index components, 2 increased and 8 decreased. In August, the Uncertainty Index was 92, up 2 points from July and the highest since October 2020. In NFIB’s August survey, 40 percent (seasonally adjusted) of all owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, up 2 points from July. Thirty-six percent have openings for skilled workers (up 4 ... (full story)