Research >> Economics
NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rises to 93.2
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The Index of Small Business Optimism gained 1.5 points in November after a 2.7 point gain in October, rising to 93.2. Still, the Index remains in recession territory. Consumer optimism measures grudgingly gave up modest improvements as did the Index, but nowhere is there evidence of a “surge” as experienced in 1983 after the deep recessions of 1980-82.
Overall, small business owners continued to report more improvements in the economic environment, but the gains were small. The Index of Small Business Optimism gained 1.5 points, but the reading of 93.2 is still very weak, closer to a recession reading than indicative of a recovery. Although the November reading is higher than the prior 34 months, it is still lower than the November - December, 2007 readings by over a point, and those were the lowest 2007 readings as the Index fell all year signaling the coming end to the expansion in December. So the Index has climbed from its recession low of 81 but is far short of even the average value of the Index prior to the start of the recession, and far below values that have typified a recovery period.
Posted: December 14, 2010 Tuesday 07:30 AM