Cautious Optimism or Full Steam Ahead?

U.S. small businesses were slightly more optimistic in January—but still depressed. This is the summation of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Research Foundation’s February 2010 Quarterly Report. The Index of Small Business Optimism gained 1.3 points in January—the first gain in three months and the highest rating in 16 months. In its summary, the NFIB states, “Small business owners entered 2010 the same way they left 2009—depressed. The quarterly index readings have been below 90 for seven quarters, indicative of the severity and pervasiveness of this recession.”