Small-Business Optimism Index Rises

ByJohn S. McClenahen The National Federation of Independent Business' (NFIB) small business optimism index rose three percentage points to 105.9 in July, one of its highest readings in more than two decades, the Washington, D.C.-based group reported Aug. 10. "Small business owners are pretty upbeat about job creation, too," adds William Dunkelberg, NFIB's chief economist. He noted that July data showed small firms planning to create jobs at levels even greater than those of the 1980 expansion.