Newtek Business Services, Inc., The Small Business Authority, announced the release of the SB Authority Index of small business indicators for April 2013 reaching 118.07 points.  Newtek merchant processing volume, approved SBA gross lending volume and the Russell Microcap Index led the increase.  The SB Authority index is up .66% from March 2013. 

President and CEO, Barry Sloane said, "Life is slowly being breathed into an economy that has lingered and moved sideways for the longest time.  The Federal Reserves "zero interest rate policy" has significantly inflated the Russell Microcap portion of our index and forced consumers to spend rather than save money in a bank at a virtually zero rate of interest. Small business lending volumes have also picked up with loan demand and banks looking to place money in loans and earn something more than the paltry yields presented to them by buying treasury bonds. A slightly stronger economy is present and on the horizon."