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 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.
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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)
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