The Index of Small Business Optimism increased 0.1 points to 94.6, still well below the 40 year average of 98. Four of the 10 Index components posted a gain, four declined and two were unchanged. GDP growth in the last three quarters has averaged 1 percent, not a recession but only matching the growth in the population. The outlook for business conditions six months from the current period continued to improve, gaining 16 percentage points since January but still in negative territory - more owners expecting deterioration than improvement.