Small biz still moody in better economy

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Bill Radke: The U.S. economy may be growing again, but the mood among small businesses remains sullen. That’s according to a new survey out this morning from the National Federation of Independent Business. And we get the story Marketplace’s Brett Neely.

Brett Neely: The survey tracks small business owners feelings about the economy.
And the mood is still pretty bleak. The group’s statement said quote: small business owners entered 2010 the same way they left 2009: depressed.

The group’s index has now been negative for seventh straight quarters in a row, though it did show some signs of improvement.

Washington is worried about what’s happened to the small business sector. The Obama administration plans to increase lending to small businesses in a bid to create jobs.

But the federation says that’s not the problem; most of its members haven’t had trouble getting a loan. Instead, it says poor sales and a shortage of customers are a bigger concern. Businesses have had to slash prices and few plan to hire new workers.

In Washington, I’m Brett Neely for Marketplace.