Small Business Optimism Crashes

Many believe the economy is going to get worse

Small-businesses grew more pessimistic after the presidential election, according to the latest Small Business Optimism Index released today by the National Federation of Independent Business.

The index, compiled monthly, fell 5.6 points to 87.5 — one of the lowest readings in the survey's history.

In the history of the monthly Index, only seven readings were lower, with all but one in the last few months of 2008 and early 2009, the depths of the Great Recession.