Optimism is waning but conditions are right for a good year for business

Small businesses say they are struggling but the economy is poised to bounce back from the pandemic in 2022

Small businesses today are struggling and their optimism is waning. Or are they?

Yes: the closely watched Small Business Optimism Index from the National Federation of Independent Businesses dropped in January to a level of 97.1, well off its recent peak of 102.5 in June 2021. Yes: when you ask small businesses about their challenges they'll name quite a few, from rising costs and supply chain problems to finding and retaining people in this tight labor market.