Small Business Optimism Edges Higher Despite Labor Concerns

A businessman walks by the New York Stock Exchange in New York City on July 7, 2025. Spencer Platt/Getty ImagesSmall-business confidence ticked up in November, with owners reporting stronger sales expectations and hiring plans surging to a 12-month high even as labor quality remained their top concern and uncertainty rose, according to a new report from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 0.8 points to 99.0 last month, staying above its 52-year average of 98, per the Dec. 9 report. Six of the index’s 10 components improved, led by a sharp rise in owners expecting higher real sales.