SmallBusinessNewz

PNC started conducting its semiannual survey in 2003, so when an all-time record is set, it doesn't necessarily mean that a comparison to the Great Depression is in order.  That said, depression of a sort is at stake, as the latest PNC report puts business owners' pessimism at an all-time high.

"Nearly one in three business owners (29 percent) are pessimistic about their own company's prospects during the next six months," according to PNC.  This compares to the 21 percent who were worried in the spring, showing a not-good rise.

As for some specifics, seventy-one percent of owners are concerned about a recession, and it's hard to deny the reality there.  Sixty-five percent see inflation as a likely problem, and again, there may be issues.

We'll try to throw out a couple of positive thoughts, though.  One fact: a couple of small business organizations believe the value of recent interest rate cuts outweighed the possibility of inflation.

Also, 74 percent of the business owners PNC surveyed said they're worried about energy prices, and those are coming down due to other factors in the economic crisis.

We're still facing something of a mixed bag of news, then, and not a "fall of Rome" scenario.