Mumbai, April 15 -- Confidence among U.S. small businesses declined again in March as rising energy prices, linked to the U.S. and Israel's war in Iran, weighed on both business owners and consumers.
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) said its small-business optimism index fell 3.0 points to 95.8, moving further below its long-term average of 98.
The NFIB survey, which tracks small businesses that make up nearly half of private-sector jobs in the U.S., showed the decline was mainly due to weaker profit trends among firms. Expectations for better business conditions also dropped to their lowest level since October 2024.
At the same time, the uncertainty index rose by 4 points to 92, significantly higher than its histor...