Several surveys were released over the past couple of weeks that highlight issues that are challenging businesses in today’s economic environment, including health benefits costs, employee morale and the cost of travel. MDM summarizes these surveys below.

Small Business Confidence
Small businesses are seeing modest but steady improvement despite persistent uncertainty in the economy, according to Capital One’s second quarter 2012 Small Business Barometer.

On the hiring front, the survey found a two-year high in the percentage of small businesses (defined as $10 million or below) planning to add jobs over the next six months, with 37 percent planning to hire. The majority of small businesses report that their business financials have remained stable or improved, with 44 percent reporting improved financial position compared to one year ago. However, small business perceptions regarding local economic conditions remain relatively unchanged and the …