Small Business Optimism Bounces Back to 3-Month High in May: NFIB

Taxes have become the top issue for small businesses for the first time in nearly five years.

Deborah Locker, an employee at Christian Family Thrift Store in Phoenix, Ariz., goes over prices on May 1, 2025. Allan Stein/The Epoch Times

Optimism among U.S. small businesses rebounded last month as trade jitters dissipated.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index climbed to 98.8 in May, up from 95.8 in April. This also exceeded the consensus estimate of 95.9.