U.S. January Small Business Optimism Index: Summary

U.S. small business optimism increased in January, according to the National Federation of Independent Business.

The organization’s monthly small business optimism index rose to 88.9 last month, compared to 88.0 in December.

Following is a table compiled from the January small business optimism index.

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                              Jan.   Dec.   Nov.   Oct.  Sept.   Aug.  6-mo.
                              2013   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012   Avg.
=============================================================================
Optimism Index                88.9   88.0   87.5   93.1   92.8   92.9   90.5
 Monthly change               1.0%   0.6%  -6.0%   0.3%  -0.1%   1.9%  -0.4%
                             ----------Percent of firms reporting:----------
Plan to Hire                    3%     1%     5%     4%     4%    10%     5%
Higher selling prices           2%     0%     0%     5%     6%     9%     4%
Increased capital spending     21%    20%    19%    22%    21%    24%    21%
Plan to increase inventory     -7%    -4%    -5%    -1%    -1%    -1%    -3%
=============================================================================
                              Jan.   Dec.   Nov.   Oct.  Sept.   Aug.  6-mo.
                              2013   2012   2012   2012   2012   2012   Avg.
=============================================================================
Expect better economy         -30%   -35%   -35%     2%     2%    -2%   -16%
Expect higher sales            -1%    -2%    -5%     3%     1%     1%    -1%
Inventory satisfaction         -1%     0%    -2%     0%    -1%     0%    -1%
Positions not able to fill     18%    16%    17%    16%    17%    18%    17%
Easing of credit conditions    -9%   -11%   -10%    -8%    -7%    -9%    -9%
Good time to expand             6%     8%     6%     7%     7%     4%     6%
Positive earnings trends      -26%   -29%   -32%   -26%   -27%   -28%   -28%
=============================================================================
NOTE: All figures are seasonally adjusted. The survey size was 2,033 firms.

SOURCE: National Federation of Independent Business

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Tanzi in Washington at atanzi@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Marco Babic at mbabic@bloomberg.net