Bernanke acknowledges importance of small business growth in economy recovery

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recently underscored the importance of supporting the growth of small enterprises in order to boost the continually down economy.

"We need to think carefully about how, in the current economic environment, our nation can best provide small businesses and entrepreneurs with the support they need to expand job opportunities," Bernanke said at a recent conference on small business and entrepreneurship, noting that startups "played an important role in fueling past economic recoveries."

He noted that in addition to boosting both local communities and the national economy, small business success also helps the United States compete globally.

Entrepreneurs don't anticipate a turnaround anytime soon, according to Insperity's recently released Business Confidence Survey. Nearly half of respondents said they believed an economic rebound will occur no sooner than the second half of 2012, and are consequently approaching internal and external expansion plans with caution.

However, Insperity CEO Paul Sarvadi noted that nearly two-thirds of those surveyed reported either meeting or exceeding their 2011 performance plans, and more than half expect a sales increase over the next six months.