As the U.S. economy moves through the final quarter of the year, uncertainty remains a constant. Consumers and large corporations are showing resilience, but Main Street is still feeling the squeeze of inflation and shifting policies.

The result? These mixed signals are keeping many small business owners on the sidelines when it comes to hiring and investment. Our latest CNBC|SurveyMonkey Small Business Survey captures this divide — and reveals how entrepreneurs are weighing risk in today's uneven economy.

This quarter's data shows a sharp generational divide. While some small business owners remain hopeful, Gen X entrepreneurs are carrying the most economic anxiety. They're the least confident group when it comes to both their own business stability and the broader U.S. outlook, a

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