Small business optimism is at an all-time high in the latest quarterly Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, conducted in July. The survey, had an overall Index score of 118, 12 percentage points higher than last quarter and the highest level in the survey’s 15-year history. The news comes as the economy grew 4.1 percent in the second quarter. In the July Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, 78 percent of small business owners reported their financial situation today is very or somewhat good, and 84 percent of business owners said they expect their financial situation will be very or somewhat good a year from now. For the second consecutive quarter, survey respondents said hiring and retaining staff was their top challenge, at 18 percent.