The National Federation of Independent Business’s (NFIB) said that confidence among U.S. small businesses cooled in September as fewer companies said they planned to hire or invest in new equipment, Bloomberg News reported today. The NFIB optimism index fell to 92.8 from an August reading of 92.9. Four of the 10 components that make up the gauge decreased, the Washington, D.C.-based group said. The fourth decline in the past five months for the measure showed business leaders may be putting off some of their hiring and investment decisions because of a lack of clarity on tax and regulatory policy. At the same time, more companies expected better economic conditions in six months, signaling a pickup in sales and employment may take time to develop.
