Government shutdown erodes U.S. small business confidence

U.S. small business sentiment fell to a seven-month low in October as business owners worried a partial shutdown of the government would weigh on sales and cause merchandise to pile up in warehouses, according to Reuters.

The National Federal of Independent Business' Small Business Optimism Index fell 2.3 points to 91.6 last month, the lowest level since March.

"Since the Washington paralysis could hardly be good news, it would be expected that the optimism measures would deteriorate, and they did," the NFIB said in a statement. "Uncertainty is the enemy of economic growth."

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