Small businesses are more pessimistic about the economic future, reporting rising costs, difficulty finding employees and equipment shortages.

This is the picture that emerges from the investigation released last Tuesday by the National Association of Independent Business. The index fell 0.9 points from 98.2 last month.

Despite the overall decrease, some components showed negative trends. Owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months fell 4 points to negative 37%, with the indicator registering a 17-point decline over the past three months. It is currently at its lowest level since November

"Small businesses are trying to take advantage of the current economic growth but have a future business outlook in mind," said NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg. "One of the biggest challenges facing small businesses is the lack of part-time employees and a shortage of supplies, which will continue to be a problem during the holidays."

Nearly half, 49%, of employers reported not meeting job applications, down 2 points from September, while 44% said they had raised wages, the highest record in 48 years.

All companies reported staff and equipment shortages, with small businesses facing the most difficulties due to building rentals, and are represented by the lowest wages in the service sector affected by the effects of the coronavirus.

"Small businesses are trying to take advantage of the current economic growth but have a future business outlook in mind," said NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg. "Small businesses are more vulnerable to unfilled positions and lower inventory as they rent and are over-represented in the lower-wage utility service sector who are affected." coronavirus infection.

Still, there was good news on the labor front on Friday, when the Department of Labor reported that employers added 531,000 jobs, led by the entertainment and hospitality sectors.

"The economy created 531,000 new nonfarm jobs during the month, above 450,000 expectations, and added an additional 235,000 jobs over the forecast two months ago," David Joy, senior market strategist at Ameriprise, said Monday wrote the script. "The unemployment rate fell to 4.6 percent. Wages for self-employed workers were stronger, particularly in the travel and leisure sectors, as the economy recovered."