People make their way in a local street of Chinatown in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 25, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
July 13 (Reuters) – Confidence among small businesses in the United States improved slightly in June after declining in May, despite owners worrying about a labor shortage and inflation, according to a survey released on Tuesday.
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Optimism Index rose 2.9 points to a reading of 102.5 in June. Seven of the 10 index components improved and three declined.
“Small businesses’ optimism is rising as the economy opens up, yet a record number of employers continue to report that there are few or no qualified applicants for open positions,” NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said in a statement.
“Owners are also having a hard time keeping their inventory stocks up with strong sales and supply chain problems.”
A net 28% of businesses…
