Small-business owners aren’t very upbeat about the economy, but they’re also not particularly pessimistic. That’s the finding of a semi-annual survey of owners taken in July and August and released last week by the advocacy group National Small Business Association.
Owners’ view of the economy has changed little from a similar survey taken in December. When asked to compare the economy now versus a year ago, 32% said it was improved, the same as in December. A third said it was worse, up slightly from 29%. And 35% described it as about the same, down from 39%. Only 44% felt the economy is better than it was five years ago, although it’s actually greatly improved since 2011.
LA Times Staff Report, September 2016.