On August 12, Jin10 reported that small business confidence in the U.S. rose in July, but owners are increasingly uncertain about the economic outlook, with many concerned about the quality of the available labor force. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) announced on Tuesday that the small business optimism index rebounded by 1.7 points to 100.3 last month, with some businesses believing the conditions have improved and that now is a good time for expansion. However, the uncertainty index in the survey jumped by 8 points to 97, which NFIB said "casts a shadow over decisions regarding hiring, pricing, and investment in plants and equipment." The agency attributed the rise in uncertainty to "tariffs, Inflation, and international conflicts such as Gaza."