NFIB: US Jan Small-Business Optimism Index Rises To 93.9 From 93.8
14 Fevereiro 2012 - 11:00AM
Dow Jones News
Small-business owner confidence in January rose for a fifth
consecutive month, but that hasn't translated into more jobs,
according to data released Tuesday.
The National Federation of Independent Business's small-business
optimism index rose 0.1 point to 93.9 in January from 93.8 in
December.
It was the fifth consecutive increase. Ignoring the spike posted
last January and February, the latest index is at its highest
reading since December 2007, when the U.S. was slipping into
recession.
Subindexes covering expectations improved. The subindex of
expected business conditions in the next six months rose 5
percentage points to -3% last month, and the expected higher real
sales subindex increased 1 point to 10%.
The better sentiment didn't translate into expansive business
decisions.
"Owners became less pessimistic about the outlook for business
conditions and real sales growth, but that optimism did not show up
in hiring or spending for more inventories," the NFIB said.
In January the inventory index dropped a steep 5 points to -3%
and the new-jobs subindex fell 1 point to 5%.
Weak sales are behind the inaction. The actual earnings trend
subindex gave up 2 points to fall to -24% after jumping 6 points in
December.
Weak labor markets have been a key drag on the economic
outlook.
The NFIB said that its member firms had 0 net increase in
workers per firm last month. That lack of labor demand runs counter
to the strong payrolls report released by the U.S. Labor Department
on Feb. 3. That report showed the economy created 243,000 jobs in
January.
"The NFIB data suggest that there will be some downward revision
in BLS numbers," the NFIB report said, referring to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
Pricing power remains extremely weak, a trend that will take
pressure off the Federal Reserve. Seasonally adjusted, the net
percent raising selling prices was -1% last month, down a point
from December.
-By Kathleen Madigan, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2466;
kathleen.madigan@dowjones.com
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