Newtek Business Services, The Small Business Authority, with a portfolio of over 100,000 business accounts, announced today the findings of its SB Authority Market Sentiment Survey, a monthly window into the concerns of independent business owners. Based on a poll of over 1,300 respondents, one of the key findings from the October survey is 70% of business owners expect that, after the election, the economy will be better than it was in 2012. Additionally, 31% of those polled expect that holiday sales will increase 4% or more from last year, 52% expect holiday sales to at least remain unchanged from last year and 17% expect holiday sales to decrease 4% or more from last year.

The full October 2012 results showed the following:

Barry Sloane, Chairman, President and CEO of The Small Business Authority commented, "We believe that our sentiment survey represents a sense of optimism among small business owners. The gradual improvement in employment, improvement in the housing sector and a good performance in the stock market has given business owners a sense of renewed optimism. Clearly the population and business owners' alike look forward to the presidential election coming and going. Contrary to some opinions, those polled did not factor in the fiscal cliff as a fear in their optimism. Most business owners believe that Congress and the current or new President will act to remove that obstacle to growth. Business confidence and optimism is volatile and fickle, but for now business owners, as our survey predicts, likes the fourth quarter as well as post-election business opportunity."