U.S. small business owners grew more optimistic in June but inflation worries are climbing

The NFIB's optimism index rose to 97.4 in June, nearing its 52-year average, as 21% of owners named inflation their top business problem

Credit: Tim Mossholder  / Pexels

The National Federation of Independent Business reported Tuesday that its Small Business Optimism Index climbed 2.1 points in June to 97.4, just below the index's 52-year average of 98.0. The result exceeded the 95.7 reading economists had expected, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Despite the rebound in confidence, inflation concerns intensified. Twenty-one percent of small business owners identified inflation as their single most important business problem — up 3 points from May and the highest share since October 2024, the NFIB said. The share of owners reporting that they had raised........

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