NFIB small business optimism index falls to three-month low
The National Federation of Independent Business' small business optimism index edged to a three-month low of 90.1 in March, down from 90.9 in February to mark the 15th straight month the index has sat below its 49-year average of 98.
Small business owners remain down on the future of economic conditions across the US, with 24% of owners stating inflation was their single most important business problem.
The NFIB said on Tuesday that 43% of small business owners had reported that job openings were hard to fill, while the number of owners expecting to see real sales grow was said to have deteriorated six points to a reading of -15%.
Small business owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months remained at a negative reading of -47%.
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com