US Small-Business Optimism Soars to Highest Level in a Decade, Report Shows

Expectations for improved cash flow and revenue among owners of small businesses in the United States reached the highest level in a decade in the first quarter of 2017, according to the Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index released on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The business owners' optimism about current conditions has reached the score of 40 for the first time in a decade.

"The rise in the index from the fourth quarter of last year to the first quarter this year is mostly a function of owners' increased optimism about current conditions, with the first-quarter score of 40 representing a 16-point jump since last quarter," a press release with the report stated.

The 40-point score was the highest since 2007 and up nearly 70 points from an all-time low of minus-29 in the first quarter of 2010, the release stated.

When asked to name the biggest challenges they face, small-business owners were most likely to mention concerns relating to government policies, such as excessive regulations and taxes, the release noted.

The surge in business confidence coincides with several reports last week showing the biggest monthly gain in job creation in recent years and a surge in US stock markets to record highs during the early weeks of President Donald Trump's administration.