Mumbai, Aug. 11 -- Optimism among US small business owners rose further in July, with the NFIB index gaining 2.4 points to 99.8. The reading moved above the index's 52-year average of 98.0 and reached its highest level since August 2025. The increase was broad-based, with eight of the index's 10 components improving, while two declined. The strongest contribution came from hiring plans, pointing to a renewed willingness among small businesses to expand their workforces. NFIB Small Business Employment Index rose to 102.1, marking a rebound after four consecutive months of declines. Labor demand also remained strong.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Capital Market....