NFIB small-business index up for sixth month

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)
A small-business optimism index rose in February for the sixth month in a row to the second-highest level since Dec. 2007
The National Federation of Independent Business said its optimism index edged up 0.4 points to 94.3, as owners became slightly more pessimistic about the outlook for business conditions but more optimistic about future sales growth
 "The price of gasoline is a wild card, and rising energy costs will weigh heavy on the minds of small firm owners
The economy is holding on to tenuous gains, moving ahead in fits and starts which, hopefully, will result in future positive growth," said the NFIB's chief economist, Bill Dunkelberg, in a statement