US Small-Business Optimism Improves for a Third-Straight Month

Optimism among US small businesses edged up in September as firms grew less downbeat about the outlook for sales, while a smaller share said they raised prices.

The National Federation of Independent Business overall optimism index rose 0.3 point to 92.1 last month, the group said in a report Tuesday. Five of the gauge’s 10 components increased. Despite rising for a third-straight month, the measure is historically low.

The survey’s inflation metrics continued to ease. The net share of owners raising prices fell 2 percentage points to 51%, the lowest in a year but still well-elevated. Almost a third of ...