The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 0.1 points in August to 105.3, its highest level since 2006, according to the NFIB Small Business Economic Trends Report.
Five components increased in August, while five declined. The high reading is the latest in a string of historically high performances extending back to last November.
“This is a sign of economic health that we’ve been expecting based on the soaring optimism that began last year,” said NFIB president and CEO Juanita Duggan. “Higher optimism resulted first in higher employment activity, and now we’re seeing more small business owners making capital investments.”
A net 27 percent of small business owners expected better sales in August, a five-point gain over the previous month. That matches the number of owners who said it’s a good time to expand, a four-point jump from July.
