Econoday Economic Report: United States : NFIB Small Business Optimism Index March 13, 2012

2012 Economic Calendar

Resource Center » U.S. & Intl Recaps | Event Release Dates | Event Definitions | Today's Calendar

United States : NFIB Small Business Optimism Index

Released On 3/13/2012 7:30:00 AM For Feb, 2012

	Prior	Consensus	Consensus Range	Actual
level	93.9	95.0	94.0 to 95.2	94.3

Definition
The small business optimism index is compiled from a survey that is conducted each month by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) of its members. The index is a composite of ten seasonally adjusted components based on questions on the following: plans to increase employment, plans to make capital outlays, plans to increase inventories, expect economy to improve, expect real sales higher, current inventory, current job opening, expected credit conditions, now a good time to expand, and earnings trend. The baseline of 100 is for the average of the year 1986. A positive percentage change indicates improvement while a negative percentage change in the index suggests a decline in optimism. But the level indicates optimism relative to 1986—a moderately healthy year for economic growth with annual average GDP growth at 3.5 percent. Why Investors Care

2012 Release Schedule

Released On: 1/10 2/14 3/13 4/10 5/8 6/12 7/10 8/14 9/11 10/9 11/13 12/11

Release For: Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov