March survey by American Express

In a survey released last month by American Express 85 percent of 627 small-business owners and managers questioned said they saw growth opportunities in the next six months, up from 72 percent in a similar poll a year earlier and 56 percent in 2003. Fifty-seven percent said they expected their sales to outpace last year's, and 66 percent reported plans to make capital investments within six months, up from 59 percent in 2004.