"Small Business Owners Grapple with Resurgent Inflation Woes"

Small business owners in the US are feeling pessimistic about the economy due to chronic inflation and a persistent worker shortage, as reflected in the National Federation of Independent Businesses' Small Business Optimism Index. Inflation has surpassed worker quality as the biggest threat to small businesses, with many owners raising prices to offset the impact. The survey comes ahead of the release of new consumer price index data, which is expected to show a continued rise in inflation, posing challenges for small businesses in 2024.