Small-Business Index in U.S. Rises to Highest in Five Months

[ProSense]

Source: Bloomberg

Confidence among U.S. small businesses rose in October to the highest level in five months as more companies projected sales gains and an improving economy, a private survey found.

The National Federation of Independent Business’s optimism index increased to 91.7 from a September reading of 89. Seven of the index’s 10 components rose and three declined. The measure, which averaged 100.6 in the five years before the recession began, has been below 93 since January 2008.

To help broaden the recovery, smaller firms need to increase hiring. A measure of job creation was little changed and capital spending plans declined, signaling a pickup in the world’s largest economy will be slow to develop.

“The private sector will continue to slog ahead,” William Dunkelberg, the group’s chief economist, said in a statement. October’s gain in optimism is “not a huge move, but at least a decent jump, perhaps anticipating an acceleration in economic activity or a change in the ‘management team’ after the election,” he said.



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-09/confidence-at-small-u-s-businesses-rises-to-highest-level-in-five-months.html

[Demeter]

1. Big Whoop--Christmas is coming, that's all

but so is the Grinch!

[jaxx]

2. These small steps are real progress.

The Democrats are helping small business.

[groundloop]

3. Oops, repukes couldn't keep the economy down until 2012...