Small businesses are growing more pessimistic about the economy, according to a new survey by the National Federation of Independent Business ( NFIB ).

The Small Business Optimism Index tracked by the NFIB dropped by 2 points last month to 98.8. The September figure is the first drop in optimism in the last three months. NFIB officials note that the optimism index is still above the average of 98, a level that has held for about 52 years across the nation.

Meanwhile, uncertainty among merchants is increasing. That index jumped 7 points from August to September and now sits at 100. That turned out to be the fourth-highest reading in 51 years, according to an NFIB news release.

There were no individual state breakouts available in the NFIB data. But NFIB Florida Executive Director

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