Inflation continues to be a major concern for small businesses, as indicated by a recent survey that showed a decline in optimism among small business owners in February. The National Federation of Independent Businesses' Optimism Index dropped to 89.4 last month, remaining below the 50-year average of 98 for the 26th consecutive month.
According to the survey, 23% of small business owners identified inflation as their top problem, a three-point increase from January when labor quality was the primary concern. Inflation levels have remained high, with prices increasing by 0.4% from January to February, up from the previous month's 0.3% rate, as reported by the Labor Department.
