US Small Business Optimism Jumps to 97.4 in June

Small business confidence rose 2.1 points in June, the NFIB said, though the index still sits below its long-term average.

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index hit 97.4 last month, up from May's 95.3. That remains below the 52-year average of roughly 98, a level the survey has tracked since the 1970s.

May's reading had fallen 0.6 points from April. The companion Uncertainty Index rose to 91 that month as business owners fretted over tariff policy and consumer spending, the survey showed.

The June rebound suggests some of those concerns eased. The index matched the 97.4 level from March 2025, which at the time represented a 3.3-point drop.

Ten components underpin the headline number, including hiring plans, capital spending, and inflation expectations. None hit the 52-year average in June.

The next NFIB release is scheduled for mid-August.