Small business optimism has been looking low in recent months.

Only 7 percent of businesses surveyed by the National Federation of Small Businesses said that now is a good time to expand, reports the L.A. Times. And 6 percent said it was a good time to make new hires.

The federation’s small business optimism index reflects that, falling 0.1 point last month to 94.4.

Confidence in the economy is also waning, falling two percentage points last week to -20, according to Gallup. But confidence is higher than it was in late 2011.

Read more here: http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-small-business-optimism-20120612,0,2360511.story