Small-business Optimism Slumps To Nine-month Low: NFIB

A gauge of small-business sentiment slumped in March to its worst reading in nine months, a trade group said Tuesday. The National Federation of Independent Business said its small-business optimism index fell 2.8 points to 95.2, the worst reading since June, with all 10 of its subcomponents declining. The biggest decline came in the percentage that say they expect better conditions in six months, which fell 6 percentage points to negative 7%.