NFIB Small-Business Optimism Index Drops in September
finance.yahoo.com

... The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released its Small-Business Optimism Index for September this morning, with the headline coming in negative for the first time in three months: -2.0 month over month to 98.8.

This is still above the survey average of 98, although the Uncertainty Index shot up +7 points to an even 100 -- the fourth-highest reading in the 52-year average of the index.

Supply Chain concerns, up +10 points month over month, topped the list, followed by Inflation.

A seasonally adjusted +31% of small businesses plan to raise prices in the next three months.

And +32% of jobs have gone unfilled in September, unchanged from the August figure.

This is not considered a major economic print, but it does provide more points on the graph adding up to a more-insecure economy at present. ...

NFIB survey: www.nfib.com

U.S. Imports Slide 8.4% as China Trade Volumes Plunge Before Tariff Deadline
www.globaltrademag.com

... U.S. container imports fell sharply in September 2025, with total inbound volumes dropping 8.4% from August to 2,307,933 TEUs, according to Descartes Systems Group's latest Global Shipping Report. The decline -- the steepest monthly drop in recent years -- reflects importers' growing caution ahead of looming tariff changes and the expiration of the U.S.-China tariff truce.

China was the primary driver of the downturn, with import volumes plunging 12.3% month-over-month to 762,772 TEUs, a 22.9% year-over-year decrease.

Nearly all major product categories saw declines, led by aluminum and related articles (-43.8%), footwear (-33.9%), and electric machinery (-31.5%). Both knit and non-knit apparel categories fell more than 29%.

Furniture and bedding -- China's largest export category to the U.S. -- dropped 22.3% from a year earlier but continued to represent 14.5% of all China-origin shipments.

Descartes noted that global supply chains continue to face elevated uncertainty as tariff volatility intersects with broader geopolitical and logistical disruptions. ...