The Small-Business Optimism Index reading for September was 92.9, the second consecutive monthly increase. But the index still has not escaped its long string of recession-level readings. “Dramatic improvements in the percentage of owners expecting the economy to [get better] over the next six months and solid plans to invest in new inventories accounted for the early surge,” said William Dunkelberg, NFIB’s chief economist.

                 
91.5
 
89.3
 
89.2
 
88.2
 
91.1
 
92.9
Apr.
 
May
 
June
 
July
 
Aug.
 
Sept.

SOURCE: NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS