Confidence among U.S. small businesses fell unexpectedly in February to its lowest level in nine months as firms continued to remain worried about inflation, survey data from the National Federation of Independent Business showed Tuesday.
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell to 89.4 from 89.9 in January. Economists had forecast a score of 90.5.
The latest reading, which was the lowest since May last year, marked the 26th consecutive month below the 50-year average of 98, the NFIB said.
The proportion of small business owners reporting inflation as their single most important business problem rose to 23 percent from 20 percent.
Inflation replaced labor quality as the top problem, the survey revealed.
by Jyotsna V
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