Small-business Sentiment Slides In June, NFIB Says

Small-business sentiment dropped sharply in June, mostly on concerns over earning trends, according to an index released Tuesday. The National Federation of Independent Business small-business optimism index fell 4.2 points to 94.1. "While it is not a disaster or a signal of a looming recession, it is a disappointing sign that economic growth on Main Street is not set for a strong second half of growth. The weakness was substantial across the board, showing no signs of a growth spurt in the near future," said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg in a statement.