|
The
National Federation of Independent Business said on Tuesday its
Small Business Optimism Index gained half a point to 95.9 last
month.
The NFIB said the survey of 656 businesses had not been impacted
much by the recent turmoil in global financial markets, which
was triggered by concerns over slowing economic growth in China.
"Most of the interviews were completed before the big slide,"
the NFIB said in a statement.
Five of the index's 10 components increased last month, while
three declined and two were unchanged.
The survey's labor market gauges improved further last month,
supporting the view that August's job growth slowdown was an
aberration. The U.S. Labor Department reported on Friday that
non-farm payrolls increased 173,000 last month, the smallest
gain in five months.
Small business owners were slightly optimistic about sales, but
did not believe it was a good time to expand. Owners were
pessimistic about business conditions over the next six months
and were noncommittal regarding capital and inventory
investment.
The survey pointed to benign inflation pressures in the near
term. Fourteen percent of small business owners reported
reducing their average selling prices in the past three months,
up one point from July. A net 15 percent planned to raise
prices, down 2 points from July.
(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Paul Simao)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
