US small-business sentiment rebounds in June, inflation a major worry for many

Current economic conditions present small business owners with both encouraging developments and ongoing challenges, said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. "Lower fuel costs provide welcome relief for businesses as well as consumers, with firms anticipating improved operating conditions over the next six months."

Small business employment eased for a fourth straight month, with the survey's jobs index dipping to 100.2 from 100.3 in May.

The government this month reported a sharp moderation in job growth in June, with nonfarm payrolls for April and May revised considerably lower.

The share of small business owners reporting job openings they could not fill rose 3 points to 32% last month. The proportion planning to create new jobs in the next three months increased 2 points to 11%. There was a 7-point jump in the share saying they hired or tried to do so in June, with roughly half reporting few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill, the biggest share since September 2024.