Small business owners not buying talk of doom-and-gloom economy.

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

About 40 percent of those surveyed think current economic conditions in the United States are strong, compared with 22 percent who say conditions 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, and l2 percent say their companies are in weak condition.

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