CEO CONFIDENCE
Survey conducted by the Conference Board, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit business membership and research group. Includes 100 business leaders in a wide range of industries. A reading of 50 reflects more positive than negative responses.
Chief executives’ confidence improved in the fourth quarter to 56. It was 50 in the third quarter. Close to 44% of chief executives said current economic conditions are better, up from 34% in the third quarter. About 39% said conditions in their own industries are better, versus 35% in the prior quarter. Nearly 41% expect economic conditions to improve in the next six months, up from 35% in the third quarter. About 44% anticipate improvement in their own industries, compared to 38% in the last survey. The majority of chief executives plan to increase prices at their companies this year. Thirteen percent plan increases of 10% or more. On average, they plan to hike prices by 3.4%, the same as last year. Some 11% plan price decreases and 20% foresee no change.
,Alisha Gomez
