SmallBusinessNewz

While June may be associated with sunshine and happy kids, it was a relatively dark and disappointing month for small business owners, according to the National Federation of Independent Business's latest data.  The NFIB's Index of Small Business Optimism dropped by a considerable amount.

The NFIB explained in a statement this morning that the Index "lost 3.2 points in June falling to 89.0 after posting modest gains for several months."  That means "[t]he Index has been below 93 every month since January 2008 (30 months), and below 90 for 23 of those months, all readings typical of a weak or recession-mired economy."

Employment trends, sales figures, inflation stats, and profitability numbers are among the problem areas.

One piece of good news is that 90 percent of small business owners reported their credit needs met, anyway.

But the NFIB's chief economist, William Dunkelberg, still observed, "The small business sector is not on a positive trajectory . . . .  Small business owners are not happy about the future of the economy being painted by the administration or economic events.  Confidence is lacking and the news out of Washington is discouraging."

Maybe Independence Day sales and celebrations will help boost July's numbers a little, at least.