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Entrepreneurs optimistic

Canadian entrepreneurs started the new year with a healthy boost of optimism, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). The Business Barometer® index jumped three points to 65.7 in January.

Canadian entrepreneurs started the new year with a healthy boost of optimism, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). The Business Barometer® index jumped three points to 65.7 in January.

“After a lacklustre November and December, small business owners across Canada are starting to feel more optimistic about the future" said Ted Mallett, CFIB's chief economist and vice-president in a press release. "While it's too soon to make any conclusions about 2013, the latest survey results are very encouraging."

Small business owners in Alberta (70.5) are once again the most optimistic the country, although Ontario (65) experienced increased small business confidence.

"Overall, there's a lot of optimism in white-collar industries such as professional services, finance and the information sector, but manufacturing, retail and construction are not far behind," he said.

Full-time hiring plans have jumped to a post-recession high, with 27 per cent of businesses expecting to hire additional staff in the next few months. Similarly, 44 per cent of business owners described their state of business to be in "good" shape – the best score of in the past four years.