US Small-Business Optimism Dips in October

Labor quality was cited by businesses as their biggest issue.A ‘Now Hiring’ sign at a store in Norfolk, Va. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times11/12/2025|Updated: 11/12/2025Small-business optimism in the United States fell in October from the previous month amid lower sales and increasing costs, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) said in a Nov. 11 statement.NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index declined 0.6 points in October from September, to hit 98.2. The index is calculated based on a survey of NFIB members.Naveen AthrappullyReporterNaveen Athrappully is a news reporter covering business and world events at The Epoch Times. Author’s Selected Articles