The National Federation of Independent Business’s optimism index rose in February to 94.5, the highest level since the recession began in December 2007, the group said Tuesday.
While an improvement, the growth wasn’t dramatic.
“This is not a reading that characterizes a strongly rebounding economy…(but) it gives us cause for some real optimism,” said William Dunkelberg, the group’s chief economist.
Hiring plans rose to the second-highest level since September 2008, a sign employment may pick up. But earnings expectations remained negative, and fewer businesses said it was a good time to expand.
Over the next three months, 17 percent of small businesses plan to add to their payrolls, up 5 percent. About 15 percent of firms in the February survey said they were having trouble filling job openings, the highest level since September 2008.
Sales were 23 percent better than a year ago, but still “indicative of weak customer activity”, the association reported.
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