Survey: Small business lending slows in September

[November 02, 2012]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Small business owners borrowed less during September, a sign that they're still not confident enough to invest heavily in their businesses.

According to a survey released Thursday by PayNet, a research firm that tracks loans to small business, lending fell 14 percent after rising slightly in July and August.

The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending index fell to 94.1 in September from a revised 108.9 in August. The index, which is based on new commercial loans and leases granted to small businesses, was unchanged from October 2011.

PayNet's report came the same day that the payroll service firm ADP reported that small businesses hired at a cautious pace in October. Numerous recent surveys and economic reports have shown that business owners are being very conservative because of uncertainty about their sales, the economy and the presidential election.

The economic news hasn't been all bad. The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group, reported Tuesday that manufacturing grew for the second-straight month in October. New orders were up -- a sign of future strength. The majority of U.S. manufacturers are small businesses.

The next big report that will give clues to owners' confidence comes Friday, when the Labor Department issues its data on October employment.

[Associated Press]

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