Washington (Reuters) -Se Small -Business Confidenze fell for the fourth consecutive month in April, with the participation of owners who reported that employment openings decrease at the lowest level by more than four years, which can insinuate a significant deceleration of the labor market.
The National Independent Business Federation said on Tuesday that its small -companies optimism index fell 1.6 points to 95.8 last month, which turned the second consecutive month of a reading below the average of 51 years of 98.
The index reached its maximum point in 105.10 in December in the middle of euphoria after the electoral victory of President Donald Trump.
Since then, it has been decreasing as Trump’s chaotic trade policy showed a lever on the economy. The NFIB uncertainty index facilitated 4 points to 92 last month.
The United States and China took an important step to discard their commercial war on Monday, and Washington agreed to reduce the tasks of Chinese products to 30% for the next 90 days. Tariffs on American goods imported to China would decrease to 10% of 125%. A 10% general tax in almost all imports remains in place as well as the tariffs of the sector.
Last month, 34% of small businesses reported work openings that could not fill, lowering 6 points from March. That was the smallest participation since January 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Twenty -nine percent of the owners had openings for qualified workers, 4 low points. The unfrushed jobs were the lowest in the finance and agricultural industries.
But workers remained scarce in construction, while the frontal load of goods probably increased the demand for labor in the wholesale industry. Assets imports increased to a record in March. It is unlikely to last, since the proportion of the planning inventory of the owners in the coming months fell to a minimum of 11 months. Small businesses have been the main drivers of work profits.
The labor market has slowed down in the midst of a hesitation by employers to add more workers. However, the layoffs remain low and are anchoring the labor market. Economists hope that employment growth slows down this year as tariffs affect the economy.
The proportion of small businesses who expect better commercial conditions fell 6 points to 15%.
“This component, together with the unfilling work openings, contributed to the greatest decline in the optimism index,” said NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg.
Inflation is no longer the most important problem for small businesses amid the ease of salary pressures. It has been overcome by taxes. Despite the decrease in work openings, companies were still concerned about the quality of work.
(Lucia Mutikani report; Andrea Ricci edition)