US CEOs more optimistic on hiring and sales, but still expect modest growth this year
WASHINGTON – Optimism among chief executives of large U.S. companies has reached a two-year high, driven by greater optimism about hiring and sales.
The Business Roundtable says that its CEO outlook index rose to 95.4 in the second quarter, up from 92.1 in the first quarter.
The gain was spurred by a better outlook on hiring: 43 per cent of the CEOs expect to add jobs in the coming six months, up from just 37 per cent in the first quarter.
Still, the outlook was not all rosy: the percentage of CEOs planning to invest more in their businesses fell to 44 per cent from 48 per cent.
Randall Stephenson, CEO of AT&T and chairman of the Roundtable, blamed the drop on the expiration of several investment tax breaks at the beginning of the year.
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