Small Business Optimism Hits High Point of Year

Washington, DC, Aug. 9, 2016 -- Small-business optimism hit the best level of the year in July, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. 

NFIB said its small-business optimism index inched up to 94.6 last month from 94.5 in June, which is the fourth straight month of improvement. Still, the gauge remains below the its historical average of 98. 

In July, four of the report's 10 subindexes rose, led by a brighter outlook going six months out.

The NFIB has said for months that small businesses are having difficulty locating the qualified workers.