Small-Business Optimism Continues to Grow

Small-business owners are full of holiday cheer as we enter the last month of 2006. Two recently released surveys show small-business owners' confidence in the U.S. economy continues to rise.

The Discover Small Business Watch survey saw an increase for the fourth straight month, with almost half of respondents rating the U.S. economy as "excellent" or "good." November's spike came from a substantial spike in the number of owners who think economic conditions for their businesses will improve during the next six months.

The latest Small-Business Economic Trends report from NFIB's Research Foundation also measured an uptick in confidence last month, rising 1.3 points to 100.7 (which is close the 30-year average of 100.2). "The domestic economy is hardly on the ropes, even with a weak housing market," the Foundation says.