- east 99.3
- Full report here
This is a small setback but the index remains above its 52-year average of 98. This is not a market-moving report and it certainly won’t be now as the focus is solely on the US-Iran war.
NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said: “Although there has been a slight decline in optimism, small businesses are feeling more certain in February as they look ahead to the months ahead. Higher sales and increased profits have made February a more positive month for many owners, but competition from larger businesses is putting pressure on Main Street firms as they deal with the current economic climate. The quality of labor and sales improved.“
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index is a monthly economic indicator that measures the “pulse” of small businesses in the United States. Published by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) since 1973, it is considered a leading indicator of the health of the U.S. economy as small businesses make up approximately 50% of the country’s private sector workforce. Despite this, due to its volatile nature and the fact that it is mostly related to the ISM PMI, it is not a market-moving report.
