SMALL BUSINESS OPTIMISM INDEX Roller coaser continues: After Feb.'s decline, confidence up 2 points in March to 93.4 Index component Net % Chnage from Feb. Plans to increase employment 5% -2 Plans to make capital outlays 24% -1 Plans to increase inventories 1% 6 Expect economy to improve -18% 1 Expect real sales higher 12% 9 Current inventory 0% 4 Current job openings 22% 0 Expected credit conditions -7% 0 Now a good time to expand 8% 2 Earnings trends -24% 3 Source: NFIB CNBC