(RALEIGH) -- After taking a dip in March, the Index of Small Business Optimism gained 2 points in April, settling at 94.5. While this is based on national data, director of the NFIB/North Carolina, Gregg Thompson, said small-business owners in North Carolina generally feel the same as those in other states.

The reading is the highest since December 2007 but represent a net gain of zero over the last year. While March did not post strong job creation numbers, labor market indicators did improve, suggesting better job growth in the next few months, according to NFIB/North Carolina.

“Things still aren’t great," said Thompson. "We’re still a long way from where we were before the recession, but hiring and capital spending were up, and that's encouraging.”

Economists believe there are a number of issues that could really trip up economic recovery. “GDP and employment growth news has not been good; the Euro debt crisis continues to make news and Congress leaves us on an identical path: huge deficits, a terrifying amount of liquidity at the Fed, and no indication that anything positive will be done," said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg.