by Calculated Risk on 11/12/2014 09:38:00 AM

From the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB): More owners plan to make capital expenditures, expect sales to increase

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index crept back to its August level of 96.1 with a gain of 0.8 points led by a modest increase in the net percent of owners who plan to increase capital spending and more who expect higher sales in the next 3 months. ...

Job creation plans improved a point to a seasonally adjusted net 10 percent.
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 17 last year - and "taxes" at 21 and "regulations" are the top problems at 22 (taxes are usually reported as the top problem during good times).

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the small business optimism index since 1986.

The index increased to 96.1 in October from 95.3 in September.

Note: There is high percentage of real estate related businesses in the "small business" survey - and this has held down over all optimism.