Upcoming Event
Free Newsletter
Survey: Small business optimism rises to 11-month high amid hiring gains
ColoradoBiz Staff //August 11, 2026//
Small business optimism index, courtesy of NFIB.
Small business optimism index, courtesy of NFIB.
Survey: Small business optimism rises to 11-month high amid hiring gains
ColoradoBiz Staff //August 11, 2026//
In Brief:
- NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rises 2.4 points to 99.8
- 20% of owners plan to create jobs, highest since October 2022
- Labor quality cited as top concern by 27% of owners
- 25% of owners plan capital spending, highest since December 2024
Small business optimism increased in July as hiring and investment plans improved, though business owners reported continued uncertainty about expansion, according to a National Federation of Independent Business survey released Aug. 11.
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 2.4 points to 99.8, its highest level since August 2025 and above its 52-year average of 98. Eight of the index’s 10 components increased.
A seasonally adjusted net 20% of owners planned to create jobs during the next three months, up 9 points from June and the highest level since October 2022. However, 36% reported job openings they could not fill, up 4 points and the highest reading since June 2025.
Labor quality or availability was the most frequently cited business problem. Twenty-seven percent of owners identified it as their top concern, up 8 points from June.
“Although uncertainty is currently elevated, Main Street anticipates that business conditions will continue to improve,” NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said.
The NFIB Uncertainty Index rose 2 points to 91, well above its historical average of 68. The increase reflected uncertainty about whether it was a good time to expand and make capital investments.
A seasonally adjusted 25% of owners planned capital spending during the next six months, up 5 points and the highest level since December 2024.
Inflation concerns eased. Fourteen percent of owners identified inflation as their most important problem, down 7 points from June. A net 31% reported raising average selling prices, down 7 points, while a net 28% planned price increases during the next three months.
The NFIB survey was conducted among the organization’s members in July.
-
