Small-Biz Optimism Inches Up, Inflation Remains “Serious Problem”

Small-business sentiment saw an improvement in August, but continued to remain depressed, according to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose by 1.9 points last month, to 91.8, data from a Sept. 13 press release showed. Though the index reversed some of the declines seen during the first half of the year, it remained below the 48-year average of 98 for the eighth consecutive month. Among sur …