While the stock market plunged in December and headlines turned grim, small business owners overwhelmingly remained optimistic about the economy and business conditions.

The National Federation of Small Business Optimism Index remained basically unchanged in December, drifting down by just four-tenths of 1%, to 104.4, amid the worst December since 1931.

Stocks lost 14% of their value in the fourth quarter and it was the worst quarterly loss since 2011. The Fed was sticking with its plan to hike rates, the political crisis in Washington was making new headlines daily, a trade war with China loomed, and uncertainty blemished Europe's economic growth outlook.