The National Federation of Independent Business's (NFIB) monthly index of small-business economic indicators increased by 1.3 points in November to 105.3, thanks to small business owners’ expectations that the economy and their sales will improve.
NFIB's survey found that 51 per cent of small business owners expect the economy to be better in six months, the highest reading since late 1983.
A net 4 per cent reported quarter-to-quarter sales gains, the best score in the past 12 months.
"Small-business owners are clearly becoming more optimistic, but spending and hiring plans remain remarkably flat," says William Dunkelberg, chief economist for the NFIB.
Small businesses even added employees last month, although it was a measly one-tenth of an employee per company.
"Job creation has finally gone positive," Dunkelberg says, "but it won't return to the 'binge' rates of the late 1990s."
