In addition, both the NFIB's index of small business optimism and the fraction of firms in the survey that consider the next three months "a good time to expand" have remained at levels similar to those seen in the first half of this year. 2  About two-thirds of survey responses were collected before the September 18 policy easing by the FOMC.
3  The survey was concluded on September 7. BIS Review 129/2007  5  Perhaps one of the most important concerns about the prospects for small business access to credit is that many small businesses use real estate assets to secure their loans.