by Calculated Risk on 12/09/2014 08:15:00 AM

From the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB): Small Business Optimism Perks Up in December

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index jumped up 2.0 points to 98.1, just a tick lower than its historical average before the Great Recession. ...

Fifty-seven percent reported outlays, 1 point better than October. The percent of owners planning capital outlays in the next 3 to 6 months fell 1 point to 25, a strong reading ...
emphasis added

And in another positive sign, the percent of firms reporting "poor sales" as the single most important problem has fallen to 12, down from 15 last year - and "taxes" at 23 and "regulations" at 22 are the top problems (taxes are usually reported as the top problem during good times - there always has to be a "top problem"!).

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the small business optimism index since 1986.

The index increased to 98.1 in November from 96.1 in October.