According to the National Association of Credit Management, business owners and chief financial officers are increasingly confident that sales and business spending will increase noticeably in 2012.

According to the report, the National Federation of Independent Business' (NFIB's) index tracking small-business optimism experienced a 1.8% increase for November, with noted improvements in predictions for 2012 sales levels, credit conditions and the overall health of the economy.

The report also outlines the results of TD Bank's most recent survey of CFOs at middle-market business which illustrated a positive outlook on the economy and an apparent willingness on the part of mid-sized businesses to spend its cash reserves on capital expenditures.  According to the TD Bank survey, 75% expect improved sales conditions in 2012 and CFO’s planning notable capital expenditures reached 50%, for the first time in several years on areas such as technological and physical facilities improvements.

The NACM report says Walter Owens, head of corporate and specialty banking at TD Bank, told NACM that he was slightly surprised at the uptick in optimism given the ongoing euro crisis and potential partisan political inertia going into an election year. Owens said. "Business and bankers have the same lending dynamic right now. The headline is: it's never been a better time to be a borrower that's in good credit standing. If you have decent credit, you're going to have a lot of options."