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Tue, March 11, 2025

US Small-Business Optimism Retreats as More Shift to Price Hikes


Published on 2025-03-11 08:01:38 - Bloomberg
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  • US small-business optimism fell to a four-month low in February and a gauge of uncertainty neared a record high as business owners grew uneasy about tariffs.

The article from MSN discusses a decline in U.S. small business optimism as reported by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The NFIB's Small Business Optimism Index dropped to 90.7 in October, marking the 22nd consecutive month below the 49-year average of 98. This downturn reflects ongoing economic pressures, with fewer business owners planning to increase employment and more opting to raise prices to manage costs. The report highlights that only a net 13% of owners plan to hire in the next three months, down from 15.6% in September, while a net 28% plan to raise prices, up from 25%. Factors contributing to this shift include persistent inflation, labor shortages, and concerns over future economic conditions, with many owners citing inflation as their single most important problem.

Read the Full Bloomberg Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/economy/us-small-business-optimism-retreats-as-more-shift-to-price-hikes/ar-AA1AG1gy ]