The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index reached 96.1 points in September, up 0.2 points from August’s reading. Seven of the ten components posted gains on the month, while three fell. Business owners reported improvement in hiring activity, as owners added a net 0.18 workers per firm in recent months, the highest level of the year.

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index reached 95.9 points in August, up 0.5 points from July’s reading. Five of the ten components posted gains on the month, while three fell. Business owners reported increased job growth in August as owners added a net 0.13 workers per firm in recent months, up from 0.05 reported in

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased 1.3 points in July to 95.4, after falling 4 points in June. Seven of the ten components posted gains over the last month. The number of owners planning to increase employment rose 3 points from June. Fifty-seven percent of owners reported hiring or trying to hire, while 48

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased 4.2 points in June. Nine of the ten components posted declines over the last month, while the expected credit conditions component showed no change. The number of owners planning to increase employment fell 3 points from May to the lowest reading since September. Fifty-two percent of owners reported