SmallBusinessNewz

Good news, everyone: it sounds like the demand for antidepressants might have been a little lighter than usual in April.  For the first time in quite a while, the National Federation of Independent Business's Index of Small Business Optimism actually went up.

The index as a whole gained 5.8 points over its March standing, bringing it to 86.8.  At a glance, this indicates that small business owners' moods didn't brighten by just a tiny bit.  And a closer look at the NFIB's stats confirms the pleasant idea.

Eight out of the ten index components rose.  "Expect economy to improve" and "expect higher retail sales" really rocketed upwards, as a matter of fact, improving by 24 and 20 points, respectively.

Only "current inventory satisfaction" and "current job openings" went in the opposite direction, and just by a mere one point each, which seems manageable.

NFIB Chief Economist William Dunkelberg stated, "This is good news for GDP growth and a rescue of the job market."  We'll just keep our fingers crossed that things keep moving in the right direction and pick up speed.