NEW YORK  –  Moody's  Corp. has launched Moody's Small Business Information Zone, an online resource center that provides U.S. small business owners with free access to economic information and planning tools that can help them manage their business through difficult economic times. The site is available at www.moodysbiz.com.

"The small business community is an important engine of job creation and innovation in our country and is vital to our economic recovery. Yet small business owners face unique challenges in navigating these difficult economic conditions and planning for the future," said Raymond W. McDaniel, Jr., chairman and CEO of Moody's Corp.

The site features small business news and economic analysis and timely articles on topics such as locating a lender, factors to consider when applying for credit, tips for completing credit applications and alternatives that business owners can consider when a loan application is rejected. A variety of recent credit and economic data is also available, ranging from auto and retail sales data to daily foreign exchange and mortgage rates.

Also included is Moody's SmallBiz Credit Assessment Tool, which lets businesses enter basic financial information about their company, such as revenue and expenses, to obtain a quantitative measure of the relative and comparative credit risk of their business.

"These tools help give small business owners insight into how potential lenders may view their risk profile before they apply for commercial credit, so they can plan accordingly," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics.

The site also provides access to detailed economic profiles by industry, as well as for geographic areas, searchable by state, metro area or zip code, to help owners of small businesses research local trends and activity when planning for expansion, hiring, or preparing a commercial credit application.