Confidence In The Economy Takes Summer Stumble.

Overall confidence in the economy slipped last month, according to the Small Business Confidence Index released today by SAM’S CLUB.

According to July figures from the Small Business Confidence Index, 45.9 percent of 1,200 small business owners and managers surveyed were confident/very confident about chances for a strong economy over the next six months. That confidence level fell 3.6 points from 49.5 percent in June.

However, this July drop in economic confidence was not reflected in how small business owners and managers feel about the U.S. employment environment. 57.5 percent of those surveyed felt that employment levels will remain the same over the next six months, up two-tenths of a point from last month.

In addition, small business confidence in the economy continues to rank higher than that of general consumers. Small business confidence has outpaced that of consumers for the past year by an average of 3.1 percent.

Armed with data provided by its market intelligence firm, BIGresearch, SAM’S CLUB is releasing monthly updates and comparisons of small business owners’ attitudes about the economy, their hiring plans and their thoughts on other issues critical to their bottom line through the Small Business Confidence Index.

SAM’S CLUB also asked 1,000 small business owners and managers at what price gasoline would have to reach before they would start changing their driving habits. The majority indicated that price levels reaching between $2.25 and $3.00 per gallon would prompt new driving priorities, while about a fifth of those surveyed would not change their driving habits, no matter what the price at the pump happens to be.

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