Optimism Among U.S. CEOs Shows Biggest Increase Since 2009
- Business Roundtable index jumps on sales, employment outlooks
- Majority of executives say tax reform biggest pro-growth issue
Pedestrians walk along Wall Street near the New York Stock Exchange.
Photographer: Michael Nagle/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Optimism among chief executive officers of some of the largest U.S. companies jumped in the first quarter by the most since the economy was emerging from the last recession, as the outlook for sales, the labor market and investment brightened considerably.
The Business Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Index -- a measure of expectations for revenue, capital spending and employment -- jumped 19.1 points to 93.3, according to the group’s survey released Tuesday. The increase, the biggest since the final three months of 2009, left the gauge above its long-run average of 79.8 for the first time in seven quarters. Readings above 50 indicate economic expansion.