The Manta Small Business Wellness Index was released Tuesday, which takes the pulse of  small business owners on hot issues affecting their businesses.
Below are some of the main take aways of the Wellness Index and accompanied by some pretty nifty graphics as well.

- According to the latest Manta SMB Wellness Index, new business activity fell 30 percent in the first quarter of 2012, compared to the same time last year.
- Almost half of small businesses (45%) do not plan to hire more people this year than they did last year, but one third say it’s too early to tell.
- Close to half of small businesses (42%) feel the economy is not in recovery and 21 percent aren’t sure.
- 82% say gas prices will negatively impact business if they continue to rise.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy, and so far, 2012 has shown mixed results in terms of a rebound. As a result, small businesses are forced to grow in new ways,” said Pamela Springer, president and CEO of Manta. “By leveraging innovative online tools, like Manta, SMBs are able to springboard their business across industries through referrals, connections and discussions with a community of their peers to help them focus on increasing their online presence and best practices for success.”

Tens of Thousands of small businesses use the Manta Connect forum each day to grow their referral networks, digital presence and community engagement.

“Having used social media to initially launch my business, I understand the power of tools, like Manta, that help me grow my business online,” said Michael Dorman, owner and president of Florida‐based Sweet Tea Junkie, a company that sells sweet tea‐themed apparel and home goods. “It is an interesting and often scary time to be a small business owner, but with the help of Manta’s community, I’ve been able to generate referrals and connect with other small business owners to ensure that regardless of the environment, I’m doing things to grow and improve my business.”

We invite you to join in the conversation and weigh in with your thoughts and opinions on the issues that you are most concerned about this year. You can join the discussion on our Political forum on Manta Connect here.