by Calculated Risk on 5/09/2017 09:20:00 AM

From the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB): April 2017 Report: Small Business Optimism Index

The NFIB Index of Small Business Optimism posted another historically high reading in April, but expectations for future business conditions plunged by eight points ...
...
The Index dipped 0.2 points April, settling at 104.5. ... Small business owners reported a seasonally adjusted average employment change per firm of 0.19 workers per firm ...
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the small business optimism index since 1986.

The index decreased to 104.5 in April.