Washington – The results of Business Roundtable’s (BRT) first quarter 2013 CEO Economic Outlook Survey show CEOs’ expectations for the economy over the next six months have improved due to expected higher sales and capital spending, but that expectations for hiring remain flat.
CEO economic expectations increased for the first time in four quarters. BRT CEOs also expect 2.1 percent growth for 2013, a slight increase from last quarter’s estimate of 2.0 percent.
“CEOs foresee somewhat better economic performance for the next six months, with improved expectations for sales and capital expenditures,” saidJim McNerney, Chairman of Business Roundtable and Chairman, President and CEO of The Boeing Company. “The relatively smaller improvement in the outlook for hiring, however, may reflect ongoing uncertainty and a wait-and-see attitude about the business climate in the United States, as agreement on the nation’s debt and budgetary issues remains elusive.
The CEO survey is now in its 11th year.
Survey Results
The survey’s key findings from this quarter and the fourth quarter of 2012 include:
