The National Federation of Independent Business optimism index rose 1.9 points in August to 91.8, marking the eighth consecutive month below the 48-year average of 98 -- but it's still a reversal of some of the declines in the first half of the year.
NFIB State Director Brad Jones joined KMOX to talk about what that number means for small business owners and the economy, especially with the recent rise in inflation.
"I was wondering, why did the optimism index go back up?" Jones said. "And I guess in the name of black humor, maybe small business people out there feel like it can't get any worse. It has to get better in the next six months."
He said small businesses, just like most other establishments nationwide, are struggling to find workers.
"That is what fuels the inflation, because in order to get these employees, you have to pay them more, and you have to pay them more, you have to charge more," he said. "And that's why we're seeing sticker shock when we go to the grocery store, or we go out and buy hamburger or pizza or just about anything else."
Hear more from Brad Jones about the state of small businesses on Total Information AM:
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