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The National Federation of Independent Business
said on Tuesday its Small Business Optimism Index fell 1.6
points to 95 last month.
Six of the NFIB's 10 indicators decreased, with about half of
the decline in the overall index due to less confidence in
future business conditions, the report said.
U.S. economic data have given conflicting signs of health this
year, with output falling sharply across the economy in the
first quarter while hiring has looked much more robust.
The NFIB index, often seen as a leading indicator for the
economy, had risen for three straight months through May to its
highest level since September 2007.
Only two of the index's 10 components improved last month, with
gains in job creation plans and unfilled job openings. That
squares with official data that last week showed the economy
created 288,000 jobs in June, well above economists'
expectations.
(Reporting by Moriah Costa; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
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