Weak economy isn't dashing spirits of small-business owners.(American City Business Journals' survey)(Statistical Data Included)

Daily reports of layoffs and an economic downturn in the national media aren't deterring the optimism of small-business owners across the country, according to a new survey by American City Business Journals.

About 40 percent of those surveyed believe current economic conditions in the United States are strong, compared with 22 percent who say they are weak.

The owners, whose businesses employ fewer than 100 people, are even more positive about their companies' financial conditions. About 51 percent rate their businesses as strong, while only 12 percent say their companies are in weak condition.

While layoffs at large companies fill the daily news, only 1 percent of small businesses expect to reduce staff over the next six months. About 18 percent say they plan to hire more employees in that period.

The poll of 503 small-business owners across the nation took place in mid-April for the Network of City Business Journals, a subsidiary of American City …