Business confidence remains low amid labour, demand shortages: CFIB

Optimism among Canadian small businesses inched higher in December, but sentiment remains “extremely low” amid high costs and lower consumer demand, according to two monthly indices that track business confidence.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)’s Monthly Business Barometer report, released Thursday, showed marginal increases in long-term and short-term small business confidence.

The long-term index, based on business performance expectations for the next 12 months, gained one point to reach 47.0. The short-term optimism index, based on a three-month outlook, increased by two points to 39.8.

“Both levels are extremely low,” the CFIB said in its report.