Small business owners just caught their breath and are pushed back down by oil prices and war; 70% of supply chains are strained, and this inflation just can't be turned around.

U.S. Small Business Optimism Index for May fell to 95.3, the lowest since October 2024, nearly erasing the gains since Trump took office. Affected by the Iran war, rising prices and economic uncertainty still overshadow most businesses, with 70% of small business owners saying supply chain disruptions are impacting operations to some extent, and the proportion viewing inflation as the primary business issue continues to rise. Analysis indicates that sharp increases in fuel prices and the difficulty in passing on costs are putting greater pressure on small businesses.