Small Business Optimism Ticks Higher

Washington, DC, Jan. 9, 2013 -- Small business optimism edged higher in December but was the second-worst reading since March 2010, according to the National Federation of Independent Business.

The NFIB small-business optimism index rose 0.5 point to 88.0.

Gains in earnings trends and expectations that real sales will be higher helped to offset a 4-point drop in plans to increase employment.