SmallBusinessNewz

Imagine one fender's been fixed on a car that went through a demolition derby and survived with its drivetrain intact.  This is more or less where a report from the National Federation of Independent Business pegs the state of small businesses for August.

August was better than July, according to an index measuring optimism.  Owners are planning to add new employees, experience improved earnings trends, and - in a really big way - see the economy strengthen sometime in the next six months.  This led to an overall increase in the index's score of 2.9 points.

Unfortunately, at 91.1, we're still stuck at a recession-level reading.

William Dunkelberg, the NFIB's chief economist, stated as a result, "The direction of change was nicely positive, but we have a long way to go.  We appear to have a 'depression' in expectations, but a more modest 'recession' in spending and hiring.  That explains why the economy continues to muddle along."

A single shiny fender is better than none, though, and at least things are moving in the right direction.  Hopefully the holiday season (which, thanks to crazy-early bird sales, we'll be entering soon enough) will result in some even greater gains.