Small-business people optimistic

Heller Small Business Institute reports that confidence levels among small-business chief executive officers toward sales and profit expectations have rebounded since this time last year.

Small-business sales forecasts rose 15 percent over the third quarter of 1980 . Optimism is highest in the South, with 57 percent of those surveyed expecting increases.

In the area of borrowing, expectations have also risen.Compared with 1980 mid-year prospects, anticipated borrowing levels have increased 7 percent.

The employment expectations are also brighter. A year ago 22 percent of the executives surveyed expected to add to their payrolls; now 28 percent are hopeful. There was also a 10 percent drop in the num ber of executives expecting an employee reduction.