[U.S. Small Business Optimism Rises to Nearly a One-Year High] BlockBeats reports that on August 11, U.S. small business optimism in July rose to nearly a one-year high as companies accelerated hiring and inflationary pressures eased. The Small Business Optimism Index from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) increased by 2.4 points to 99.8, the highest level since August 2025. Among the 10 sub-indices that make up the index, 8 rose while 2 declined. The net percentage of U.S. small businesses planning to add jobs surged to its highest level since October 2022, and the proportion of small businesses planning capital expenditures in the coming months reached its highest level since the end of 2024.