Principal survey: US business sentiment falls to 6.02 in October
Key points
- US business sentiment fell to 6.02 out of 10 in October, down 8% from July and the lowest since April 2025
- Small and midsize business sentiment was 5.28 versus 7.08 for large firms, the widest gap since March 2021
- 52% of surveyed companies said they were growing
Principal's quarterly Financial Well-Being Index shows US business sentiment fell to 6.02 out of 10 in October, down 8% from July and the lowest since April 2025. Small and midsize business sentiment dropped to 5.28 versus 7.08 for large firms, the widest gap since March 2021. 52% of surveyed companies said they were growing.
What employers should do
- Review hiring and staffing plans against your company's size and current sentiment levels
Original report: Staffing Industry Analysts ↗AI-assisted brief; may contain inaccuracies. Rely on the original reports and official documents.