NFIB Small Business Optimism Index Virtually Unchanged in September

Nashville, TN, October 14, 2015—NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index was basically unchanged from August to September. Reading 96.1, the Index gained 0.2 points and remains well below the 42-year average of 98.

“Small business optimism continues to be stagnant, which is consistent with the expected economic growth of about 2.5%,” said Bill Dunkelberg, NFIB chief economist. “The percent of owners citing the difficulty of finding qualified workers as their Most Important Business Problem increased and is now third on the list behind taxes and regulations. This is the highest reading since 2007 and suggests that employers will continue to face wage pressure in order to attract and keep good employees.”