The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell slightly to 98.2 in October, remaining just above the long-term average. Key issues include persistent labor shortages and declining sales, with many owners struggling to fill job openings and report negative profit trends.

TikTok Shop reported $19 billion in global sales, equal to eBay's volume, with the U.S. market growing by 125% despite regulatory issues. The platform relies on video content for product discovery, though livestream shopping lags behind its success in China. Small businesses make up a large part of the seller base, but TikTok faces challenges in vetting new merchants.