NFIB small-business index at post-recession high

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)
A measure of small-business optimism in April matched the best post-recession reading, a trade group said Tuesday
The National Federation of Independent Business said its small-business optimism index rose 2 points to 94.5, led by an 11-point jump in earnings trends
That takes the gauge to the same level as in February 2011
Gains for components measuring plans to increase employment, plans to increase capital outlays, those that expect the economy to improve and expected credit conditions also buoyed the index
The report is based on the responses of 1,817 randomly sampled small businesses in NFIB's membership